A major IT outage on July 19, 2024, caused by a defective update from CrowdStrike’s Falcon software, disrupted operations for over 8 million Microsoft Windows-based computers worldwide, including critical airline systems at Delta Air Lines.

Delta sued CrowdStrike, alleging gross negligence and fraud due to the faulty update that led to significant travel disruptions including 7,000 flight cancellations and a $550 million financial impact.

A Fulton County Superior Court judge allowed Delta’s claims to proceed, including gross negligence and computer trespass, while CrowdStrike plans to defend against the allegations and limit damages.

This outage also affected other airlines and global travelers, with Microsoft service disruptions playing a key role in widespread operational challenges at various airports.