Flights Grounded at Boston Logan Airport due to Global Technology Outage
At 6 a.m. on July 19, 2024, travelers at Boston Logan Airport received an announcement stating that the software used to obtain flight routes was down. The airport authorities estimated that the outage would last until at least 8 a.m. Consequently, numerous flights out of the airport were delayed or canceled. The situation was attributed to a global computer outage affecting airlines worldwide. The airport authorities urged passengers to check with their respective airlines before heading to the airport.
Delta Airlines, one of the affected carriers, experienced an outage that began at 3 a.m. and lasted for two hours. However, at 5 a.m., the outage was extended for an additional two hours. Despite these technical difficulties, Delta’s computers appeared to be functioning, enabling staff to assist passengers with check-in and security procedures. Delta promptly announced that it had paused its global flight schedule due to a vendor technology issue impacting several airlines and businesses around the world. The airline assured customers that it was working diligently to resolve the problem and resume normal operations.
Passengers like Natalie Coryea, whose flight was impacted, expressed their concern over the heavy reliance on technology. Coryea stated, “We’re relying on technology these days and it’s scary how everything can just shut down in an instant.” The frustration was palpable throughout the airport, as flight information screens remained frozen and failed to display accurate and updated flight times and statuses. It was reported that the software system responsible for powering these screens had also frozen.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) closely monitored the situation, acknowledging the technical issue impacting IT systems at U.S. airlines. In response to requests from several airlines, the FAA provided assistance by implementing ground stops until the issue could be resolved.
United Airlines and American Airlines both confirmed their groundings in light of the global technology outage. United Airlines attributed the issue to a third-party software outage that affected computer systems worldwide. As a result, all aircraft were held at their departure airports until the systems could be restored. However, flights that were already in the air continued to their destinations. American Airlines, on the other hand, acknowledged that a vendor’s technical issue had impacted multiple carriers, including themselves. By 5:00 a.m. ET, American Airlines had managed to safely re-establish its operations and offered apologies to affected customers for the inconvenience caused.
As this situation continues to develop, it is advised to stay tuned to 7NEWS for the latest updates both on-air and online. The impact of global technology outages on airline operations underscores the increasing reliance on technology in the aviation industry. While technological advancements have greatly improved efficiency and convenience, incidents like these serve as a reminder of the potential risks associated with such dependence. It is crucial for airlines and airports to have robust backup systems and contingency plans in place to minimize disruption during unforeseen technical issues. Additionally, passengers should consider having alternative travel plans or flexibility in their itineraries to avoid being severely affected by such outages.
