Computer failures worldwide: delays and suspended flights in US airports and in much of Europe. Problems also in Catania

John

By John

Large-scale technical failures have been reported around the world in what appears to be a global computer system failure, the BBC reports, noting that the main banks, media and airlines are currently experiencing major IT disruptions.

The cause of the large-scale computer failures would have been an error in updating a software agent. It would therefore not be a hacker attack. This is what we learn from informed sources. The problem would concern the cybersecurity software Crowdstrike, used by many companies and administrations, which, due to a configuration error, is not updating correctly.

Could a cybersecurity company, Crowdstrike, which produces antivirus software, be behind the chaos in systems around the world? According to experts consulted by the BBC, it seems that Crowdstrike has released a software update that is blocking Windows devices, causing the so-called “blue screen of death” on PCs.

US tech giant Microsoft said it had taken “mitigation actions” following the service disruptions. “Our services continue to improve as we continue to take mitigation measures,” the company said in a post on X. In a notice, Microsoft said that users “may not be able to access various Microsoft 365 apps and services».

Reports of computer crashes are coming from all over the world, including Berlin and London. The UK’s largest train operator is struggling with “widespread” IT problems and warning of cancellations, X reports on the four lines operated by Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR). Some flights have been grounded, the BBC reports. Also London Stock Exchange hit by technical problem which affected its information dissemination platform to the market, while the display of the change in the FTSE 100, its main index, was delayed at the open.

Piazza Affari was also involved in the IT problems related to Microsoft systems. For over an hour, the Borsa Italiana website was not updated, remaining stuck at yesterday’s closing data. Borsa Italiana explains that the Ftse Russell company, the company that manages the index, communicated at the start of trading at 9:00 that the Ftse Mib index score was not updated.

In the UK, Sky News is off the air due to disruptions caused by Microsoft systems failuresThe channel was unable to broadcast live this morning, the company’s executive chairman told the BBC.

Aena, the airport management body, has warned of possible delays at Spanish airports due to “problems” with its IT systems. In a statement posted on social media, Aena assures that it is trying to resolve the IT problems “as soon as possible”. But that these could cause delays in flights scheduled today in Spain, even if the incident is not affecting all Spanish airports.

US airlines have imposed a global grounding of all their flights. The BBC reports. United, Delta and American Airlines, all based in the United States, have imposed a “global ground stop” for all their flights. Those currently travelling will continue to their destinations, but no other flights will take off for now, the BBC specifies.

Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, one of Europe’s busiest, is among those affected by Microsoft’s cloud services problems. Interruptions also at Eindhoven airport, in the south of the Netherlands, for the airline Transavia and for the country’s hospitals. “There is currently a global IT interruption. The impact is currently being mapped,” reads a note released by the airport operator.

SAC, the management company of Catania and Comiso airport, announces that due to the global computer failure on the systems of some airlines, operational difficulties, delays in check-in operations and disruptions for passengers may occur.