Disturbances at airports - Global computer issues affect air travel primarily
Computer problems are causing significant disruptions worldwide, particularly in the aviation sector. At numerous airports, as well as administrations, issues were reported. In Germany, Berlin Airport had to temporarily halt operations. Reports from other countries indicate disruptions to banking and hospital services in addition to air travel.
The Dutch airline KLM suspended most of its operations. The Australian government convened an emergency meeting. Sky News temporarily stopped broadcasting and displayed a static image.
German security circles: No cyber attack
According to German security circles, it is believed to be a technical disruption caused by a faulty software update. There is currently no evidence of a cyber attack. According to media reports, a suspected cause was a problem with a program update from IT security company Crowdstrike. An energy company in Australia reportedly traced the issues back to this problem. Crowdstrike informed its customers of the issues in a statement, as reported by technology website "The Verge."
University Clinic in Kiel cancels surgeries
The problem with Crowdstrike reportedly affected Microsoft software, according to media outlets such as Bloomberg. Microsoft had previously reported issues with its Cloud Service 365.
In the US, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) grounded flights for airlines like United, American, and Delta. European budget airline Ryanair also reported issues. In northern Germany, the University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein canceled all planned surgeries and closed ambulances.
With the concentration in the software industry, it often happens that numerous companies are affected by problems with individual providers. For example, a cyber attack on the American IT services company Kaseya in 2021 was felt as far as Sweden, where the Coop supermarket chain had to close almost all stores.
- The reported computer issues at Berlin Airport affected the operations of various international airlines, including KLM.
- The disruption in air traffic led to the temporary suspension of Sky News broadcasts, displaying a static image.
- Some experts suggest that the computer problem at Berlin Airport might be linked to a faulty software update from IT security company Crowdstrike, as reported by Australian energy companies and technology websites like "The Verge."
- The issue with Crowdstrike reportedly affected Microsoft software, causing trouble for not only air traffic but also affected banking and hospital services in other countries and even leading to cancellation of surgeries at the University Clinic in Kiel, Germany.
- The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in the US had to ground flights for major airlines like United, American, and Delta due to this computer problem, while European budget airline Ryanair also faced technical challenges.
- The intensity of the problem highlights the interconnectedness in the software industry, as seen in a similar incident in 2021 when a cyber attack on American IT services company Kaseya led to disruptions as far as Sweden, affecting businesses like the Coop supermarket chain.
