Airline Alleges Negligence in Cybersecurity Testing
Delta Air Lines has filed a lawsuit against cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike, claiming that the company’s failure to properly test a software update led to a global technology outage. The incident grounded thousands of flights and left Delta with over $500 million in losses, according to the airline. Filed in Georgia’s Fulton County Superior Court, the suit accuses CrowdStrike of negligence, alleging that the company cut corners in its testing process.
Delta Seeks Compensation and Punitive Damages
In its legal filing, Delta demands compensation and punitive damages from CrowdStrike, blaming the firm’s actions for days of flight cancellations. The outage, which occurred during the busy summer travel season, saw Delta cancel around 7,000 flights over a five-day span. The lawsuit claims the damage was worsened by Delta’s prolonged recovery time, which extended the impact on its customers.
U.S. Department of Transportation Investigates Delta’s Slow Recovery
The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has launched an investigation into Delta’s delayed recovery, seeking answers as to why Delta took longer to restore its services compared to other carriers. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg stated that the DOT will also look into customer service complaints, including reports of unaccompanied minors being stranded and long wait times for customer support.
CrowdStrike Rejects Delta’s Claims, Cites “Misinformation”
A spokesperson for CrowdStrike dismissed Delta’s allegations, saying that Delta’s claims “reflect a lack of understanding of how modern cybersecurity works.” CrowdStrike suggested that Delta’s IT infrastructure played a role in the airline’s slow response to the outage, adding that the airline was attempting to shift the blame. CrowdStrike said its liability in the incident was less than $10 million, a figure disputed by Delta, which is seeking much higher compensation.
Delta Alleges Unvetted Update Led to Global Impact
In its lawsuit, Delta alleges that the global outage stemmed from an untested software update CrowdStrike issued for Microsoft computers, which impacted various industries including banking and healthcare. The airline asserts that CrowdStrike “caused a global catastrophe” by releasing the update without thorough testing. Delta claims this alleged oversight resulted in significant operational disruptions and financial losses during peak travel season.
