A massive outage at technology giant Microsoft has left a trail of disruption in its wake, impacting scores of industries and services around the world.
The issue, which emerged on Friday, has affected access to Microsoft 365 apps and services, with websites like DownDectector recording multiple outages across various sectors.
Key industries, including airlines, telecommunications providers, banks, and media outlets, are among those experiencing widespread issues. In Australia, major airlines like Qantas and Virgin Australia, as well as banks such as NAB, Commonwealth, and Bendigo, reported disruptions. The shutdowns have also affected news broadcasters, with TV and radio channels of major outlets like the ABC and Sky News going dark.
US-based airlines American Airlines, Delta, and United were among those affected by the outage, with flights grounded temporarily. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reported that multiple airline carriers had been forced to suspend service.
The UK is also experiencing issues, with budget airline Ryanair, train operators like TransPennine Express and Govia Thameslink Railway, and TV station Sky News among those impacted. Similarly, in Germany, Berlin Airport suffered technical faults, resulting in suspension of check-in services until further notice.
Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport reported major disruptions, saying the outage was affecting flights to and from one of the busiest hubs in Europe during peak travel season. Meanwhile, other major airports, including Rome’s Leonardo da Vinci and Melbourne’s Tullamarine, experienced issues related to check-in and baggage scanning.
Payment systems were also affected, resulting in some supermarkets and stores inability to process transactions. Several banks, including ASB and Kiwibank in New Zealand, reported services are down.
A user took to X, sharing a Crowdstrike alert warning about crashes on Windows hosts related to the firm’s Falcon Sensor platform. The company could not be reached for comment on the causes of the outage, but Microsoft assures users that they are working to divert traffic to alternative systems to minimize downtime.
