Delta Air Lines CEO Ed Bastian has accused Microsoft and CrowdStrike of causing a massive IT outage that cost the airline $500 million over five days in July. The outage, which began on July 19, led to widespread flight cancellations and disruptions for thousands of passengers.
Bastian told CNBC that Delta was disproportionately affected by the outage due to its heavy reliance on both Microsoft and CrowdStrike technology. He criticized the two tech giants for their competitive relationship, which he claims hindered their ability to collaborate effectively during the crisis.
“This is a call to the industry,” Bastian said. “Everyone talks about making sure big tech is responsible. This cost us half a billion dollars.”
The airline CEO emphasized that Delta is seeking compensation for the significant financial losses incurred during the outage, including lost revenue and customer compensation costs. Bastian also called for stricter testing protocols for mission-critical systems to prevent similar incidents in the future.
Delta’s reliance on Microsoft and CrowdStrike highlights the increasing vulnerability of critical infrastructure to cyberattacks and system failures. The incident has sparked a broader conversation about the responsibilities of tech companies in ensuring the reliability of their products and services.
