U.S. Department of Transportation Investigates Delta Airlines Amid Flight Disruptions
- Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg announced an investigation into Delta Airlines, highlighting potential regulatory issues.
- The investigation is part of a broader examination of airline practices amidst rising concerns about service and consumer rights.
- This development could have significant implications for Delta Airlines and the airline industry as a whole.
The U.S. Department of Transportation has launched an investigation into Delta Airlines following significant flight disruptions attributed to a global IT outage at cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg announced the inquiry on social media, emphasizing that all airline passengers deserve fair treatment. Delta has faced considerable challenges in resuming normal operations, having canceled over 400 flights on Tuesday alone, the highest number among major airlines, according to FlightAware. The IT outage, which occurred last Friday, affected various sectors, including airlines, hospitals, and banks across the U.S. and Europe. While many airlines have managed to recover with minimal disruptions since the incident, Delta's situation remains critical. The airline's statement to ABC News confirmed its full cooperation with the investigation and highlighted ongoing efforts to restore operations. Delta attributed the disruptions to a faulty Windows update from CrowdStrike, which rendered many of its IT systems inoperable. Delta's IT teams are reportedly working diligently to repair and reboot the affected systems, which are predominantly Windows-based. The airline noted that the process requires additional time for applications to synchronize and communicate effectively. In light of the ongoing issues, Buttigieg has encouraged Delta passengers to share their experiences with the Department of Transportation, assuring them that the agency will follow up on their concerns.