- Microsoft and Delta Air Lines are in a legal and public dispute over who is to blame for the global IT outage that disrupted Delta’s operations, leading to around $500 million in losses.
- Microsoft claims Delta’s slow recovery was due to outdated IT systems, while Delta argues it has invested billions in IT infrastructure and disputes Microsoft’s and CrowdStrike’s claims.
- Delta is pursuing damages and criticized Microsoft and CrowdStrike, while Microsoft asserts that it offered assistance that Delta declined, citing the involvement of other tech providers like IBM and Amazon.
Microsoft and Delta Air Lines are engaged in a heated dispute regarding responsibility for the massive IT outage that severely impacted Delta’s operations last month. The disruption, which led to over 5,000 flight cancellations, cost Delta approximately $500 million, prompting the airline to seek damages from both Microsoft and CrowdStrike, reports CNBC.
Slow recovery
Microsoft’s lawyer, Mark Cheffo, contends that Delta’s slow recovery was due to the airline’s outdated IT infrastructure, rather than issues with Microsoft’s systems. Cheffo stated that Delta had not modernized its IT systems as effectively as its competitors and had declined Microsoft’s offer of free assistance during the crisis. According to Cheffo, Delta’s crew-scheduling system, which struggled the most during the outage, was supported by other technology providers like IBM, not Microsoft.
Delta, on the other hand, has accused Microsoft and CrowdStrike of failing to meet contractual obligations and acting with gross negligence. The airline claims it has invested billions in IT since 2016 and disputes Microsoft’s assertions, arguing that its extensive IT investments should have mitigated the outage’s impact.
Delta CEO Ed Bastian has stated that Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella’s email and CrowdStrike’s offer of consulting advice were not sufficient and that the incident resulted in unprecedented levels of cancellations. Delta has been critical of both companies, emphasizing that the outage highlighted the need for more robust testing and reliability in mission-critical technology systems.
The conflict highlights the broader issue of technology reliability and accountability in critical infrastructure. Microsoft has demanded that Delta provide records detailing the involvement of other tech providers, like IBM and Amazon, which also played roles in the airline’s IT operations. As the dispute continues, the technology and airline industries are closely watching the outcomes of this high-stakes legal battle.
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Source: CNBC
