Microsoft’s response to Delta Air Lines’ criticism of Windows and CrowdStrike following a massive IT outage last month has shed light on the situation. Delta CEO Ed Bastian called out both companies for the $500 million loss Delta incurred due to the outage. However, Microsoft claims that Delta rejected their free assistance multiple times and even ignored an email from CEO Satya Nadella to Bastian.
In a letter sent on behalf of Microsoft to Delta’s lawyers, Mark Cheffo, co-chair of Dechert’s global litigation practice, disputes Bastian’s comments and paints a different picture of the incident. Despite the outage caused by CrowdStrike, Microsoft immediately offered to help Delta at no cost. However, Delta declined their offers repeatedly, even as the airline faced thousands of flight cancellations.
Microsoft alleges that Delta’s refusal of their help may be due to struggles in restoring non-Windows systems, particularly the crew-tracking and scheduling system serviced by other technology providers like IBM. This suggests that Delta’s IT infrastructure was more impacted by the CrowdStrike outage than its competitors, highlighting potential issues beyond the Windows servers.
In addition to CrowdStrike, Microsoft has requested Delta to preserve documents related to the outage, including those concerning the crew-tracking and scheduling systems running on various technologies. Both companies are prepared to defend themselves in litigation if Delta chooses to pursue that route.
CrowdStrike has also denied responsibility for Delta’s prolonged outage and stated that Delta declined their on-site assistance as well. The ongoing investigations by the US Department of Transportation into Delta’s recovery efforts indicate the severity of the situation and the need for a comprehensive review of the airline’s IT infrastructure.
Overall, the response from Microsoft, CrowdStrike, and Delta reveals a complex web of issues surrounding the outage, highlighting the importance of effective IT management and collaboration in the face of unexpected disruptions. As the investigation continues, it remains to be seen how the parties involved will resolve the situation and prevent similar incidents in the future.
