Global Network Outage Impacts IT Systems Worldwide – Microsoft Blames Software Update

A worldwide network outage caused chaos on Friday, impacting hospitals, flights, and millions of people reliant on electronic devices. The culprit was identified as a software update to Microsoft’s Windows operating system released by cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike. Despite the widespread disruption, CrowdStrike’s CEO emphasized that it was not a security incident or cyberattack.

In response to the outage, US authorities grounded major airlines, leading to the cancellation of 1,500 flights and delays for nearly 4,000 others. Passengers at airports such as LaGuardia in New York expressed frustration as they were left with uncertain travel plans.

New York Mayor Eric Adams sought to reassure residents, stating that critical infrastructure and emergency operations were unaffected. However, transportation hubs globally, including Narita Airport in Tokyo, faced significant disruptions.

The upcoming Paris Summer Olympics were not immune to the effects of the outage, with organizers struggling to deliver uniforms and official accreditations. Microsoft has since addressed the underlying issue, claiming to have fixed the problem and restored affected services. Meanwhile, CrowdStrike’s CEO expressed regret over the incident.