A major internet outage affecting Microsoft is disrupting flights, banks, media outlets and companies across the world, with problems continuing hours after the technology company said it was gradually fixing an issue affecting access to Microsoft 365 apps and services.

Airlines and airports in the United States, Europe, Australia, India and elsewhere were reporting problems, with some flights grounded. Retail outlets, banks, railway companies and hospitals in several parts of the world were also affected in what appeared to be an unprecedented internet disruption.

A widespread technology outage has grounded flights, knocked banks offline, and taken media outlets off the air on Friday, in a massive disruption that affected companies and services worldwide, highlighting the dependence on software from a few providers.

The cybersecurity company CrowdStrike attributed the disruptions to a 'content update' in Microsoft's global systems. CrowdStrike CEO George Kurtz stated on the social media platform X that the company was working to resolve the issues created for Windows users of its tools. Kurtz emphasized that the outage was not a security incident or cyberattack but a defect in a specific update for Windows.

Airlines and Airports

In Germany, Eurowings reported the cancellation of domestic flights and services to and from the UK. The low-cost subsidiary of Lufthansa explained that its check-in and boarding processes were impaired by the computer disruption, urging travelers within Germany to book train tickets and submit them for reimbursement.

In South Korea, several low-cost airlines reported significant problems at Incheon International Airport, the country's largest airport. Jeju Air Co. faced issues with ticket issuance and other services on its website. Air Premia Inc. indicated that key services such as ticket reservations, cancellations, and online check-ins were not functioning. The website of Eastar Jet Co. was inaccessible until Friday afternoon.

In the United States, United Airlines warned customers about possible flight delays due to issues with its computer systems. The airline noted that some flights were resuming operations and offered waivers to facilitate changes in travel plans through its website.

Impact on Commerce and Health

In London, the Stock Exchange indicated that some of its services were affected, although trading was not compromised. Its regulatory news service was not functioning on Friday morning due to the outage. The London Stock Exchange is working to resolve the problem as soon as possible.

In Asia, airports in Thailand, Singapore, and Malaysia also reported similar issues, with long lines and passengers worried about missing their flights due to prolonged check-in processes. In Hong Kong, hundreds of travelers queued for manual check-in at the counters of the low-cost airline HK Express, whose global e-commerce platform was affected.

The automated border control system at Bangkok's two main airports was also affected. Ground operations of several airlines at six major Thai airports were disrupted. Airport authorities urged passengers to arrive at least four hours before their departure time.

In the UK, the outage affected the medical consultations of most family doctors, due to issues with the patient record system used in the National Health Service (NHS). Although the emergency number 999 was not affected, the disruption caused significant inconveniences in primary healthcare.

James Bore, managing director of the cybersecurity consulting firm Bores, pointed out that internet outages can cause real harm, affecting hospitals and other essential services. Bore warned that there could be deaths due to the outage since many critical systems are linked to the affected technology.

In the context of the Olympic Games, some delegations and the delivery of uniforms and accreditations were delayed due to the outage. The organizers of the Paris Olympic Games stated that the issue did not affect ticket sales or the torch relay.

CrowdStrike assured that they are actively working with affected customers to resolve the problems created by the defective update. The company recommended organizations to communicate through official channels for the latest updates and ensured that its team is fully mobilized to guarantee the security and stability of users.

This incident underscores the risks of excessive reliance on specific technologies and highlights the vulnerability of critical systems to massive failures, evidencing the need for diversification and redundancy in global technological infrastructures.