Delta Air Lines grounded flights and predicted widespread cancellations early Monday, disrupting the travel plans of thousands of passengers, after a power outage hit its computer systems globally.
At 8:40 a.m, Delta announced the ground stop has been lifted, but passengers should still anticipate major delays and cancellations as only “limited” departures are resuming.
The Atlanta-based carrier said the outage began at around 2:30 a.m, though it was unclear how that affected the company’s global computer systems. Eastern flights which were already en route were operating normally, but others were delayed or cancelled.
The massive outage threw the airline back to the days of yore in aviation travel, where many things were done manually. In Richmond, Virginia, boarding passes were written out by hand. In Tokyo, a dot-matrix printer was resurrected to keep track of passengers on a flight to Shanghai. In New York, self service check-in kiosks were dark.
And the technology that was working was giving inaccurate information. Flight status systems, including airport screens, were incorrectly showing flights on time, something the company was trying address.
“We apologize to customers who are affected by this issue, and our teams are working to resolve the problem as quickly as possible,” the company said in a statement.
Many passengers, like Bryan Kopsick, 20, from Richmond, were shocked that computer glitches could cause such turmoil.
“It does feel like the old days,” Kopsick said. “Maybe they will let us smoke on the plane, and give us five-star meals in-flight too! ”
Early confirmation of the troubles first came in an official account that responds to customers via Twitter. The company had said its IT systems were down “everywhere” and “hopefully it won’t be much longer.” Several applications were affected, including the company’s website.
Among those affected was Tanzie Bodeen, 22, an intern at a software company who lives in Beaverton, Oregon. She had left for Minneapolis St. Paul airport at about 4 a.m. and learned about the delays only upon her arrival — when she found news crews gathered at the door.
“Delta didn’t really say anything,” she said.
Bodeen said that passengers have been taking the matter in stride. “It doesn’t seem really hostile yet,” she said.
People all over the world were affected. Stephen Smith, 32, of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, had been stuck on the ground for hours at Tokyo’s Narita Airport on a flight that was supposed to go to Shanghai.
Smith took solace in the fact the air conditioning on the plane was working and said it seemed everyone on board was fine.
“Waiting game at this point,” he tweeted to The Associated Press.
The company said travelers will be entitled to a refund if the flight is cancelled or significantly delayed. Travelers on some routes can also make a one-time change to the ticket free of charge.
Delta shares were down 2 percent in pre-market trading.
Computer outages have caused major headaches for airlines and travelers before. Southwest Airlines was forced to cancel more than 2,000 flights across the U.S. last month after technology problems prevented many travelers from checking in or boarding flights.
Some passengers were reporting, with hope, that they still hoped to get to their destinations — eventually. While unhappy at missing vacation time, some were calmed by the airline’s promise to get them on their way.
“The nice thing is that everyone here at the terminal are dealing with the same issues,” Kopsick said. “Many passengers are joking at this point.”
The Associated Press contributed to this article.
Might want to check this out, you supposed nont so great Silicon Valley computer savants, altho you may be the problem. I always suspect a muslim mechanic checking and supposedly fixing those planes which of late have had crashes and other problems. A world today where trust is on hold because it is difficult to trust so many invaders, muslims, or real computer experts in the Ukraine (in particular), etc. Anything to keep us where they want – in camps, at home, and without freedoms!
Pretty scary — I agree. I’ve stopped flying. Gave up $1700 worth of tickets last month, for me and my husband, because I was afraid to get on the plane. I saw the guy behind the ticket counter and some of the staff, and got scared. Enough people stop flying the airlines will be in big doo doo! That might cause them to sit up and take notice. Nothing else will, of that I’m sure.
My quest is what caused it? Was it hacked?
You can say that again.
My question is what caused it? Was it hacked?
“Many passengers, like Bryan Kopsick, 20, from Richmond, were shocked that computer glitches could cause such turmoil”.
Bryan’s statement that a computer glitch would cause such turmoil. This turmoil is minor when one would compare the turmoil to what will happen to the whole country if our electrical grid is attacked and is shuts down. It would not be just a turmoil but a disaster.
And not much is being done to protect our electrical grid.
BOY ! AIN’T THAT THE TRUTH! It’s gratifying to see that there are some who post here, like Martin, really have a grip on the important stuff! Well, there a re a lot of preppers out there trying to get ready for then the S.H.T.F.!! Like I’ve said before on this comment page, I’m predicting (and I sincerely hope I’m wrong!) that America is going to suffer a large calamity, – even like riots etc., – before or by, the end of the year. ISIS and its’ followers have already said that we’re the number one country in their ‘sights’ for an attack – and the power grid is a real ‘plum’ choice…By the way, Trump has said to “watch the bubble” which is about to burst! I believe he means the financial bubble – and to that end, I also think he’s correct! We’re in for some really interesting times, folks!
SOON AMERICA WILL COLLAPSE, FROM THE INSIDE. TO MANY PEOPLE ALL WANTING TO GO IN DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS. WHEN THE GRID FAILS, GENERATOR SALES WILL SKYROCKET! AND WIDE SPREAD LOOTING WILL BEGIN. I SURE HOPE AMERICA IS ARMED. ALL THE HAVE NOTS WILL BE WANTING TO TRADE PLACES WITH THE HAVES. THAT NATURES WAY. WE HAVE ALREADY SEEN PLENTY OF LOOTING WITH A SMALL CIVIL DISTURBANCE. NOT TO MENTION DESTRUCTION OF PROPERTY. THEN OBUMBA WILL HAVE COMPLETED WHAT HE SET OUT TO DO.
You are right. I had a very bad feeling about Obama from 2008. #1, who is this guy? Why can’t they verify a birth certificate. Why all the refugees? Are they getting screened? That settled these refufees on our borders in San Diego! Why? CA is already short of water. Now they are taking 100,000 + acres from our area to supply the water supply in San Diego. Thisvtakes water from our farmers. If foreign countries own the farms and we are taking care of all these refugees who are on Welfare or taking jobs from our citizens.
We have no idea how many plants have been sold to foreign countries. I know Saudi Arabia has bought Federal Land. China now owns the biggest packing plant in USA of pork. Brazil has bought a Swift plant in Greeley CO. The company my son worked for was bought by a French Company. They laid off all the American employees. Illegal are coming across the borders but they are being transported to other states. The guy who did the shooting in Orlando was an employee who transported these illegal. He worked for a company, hired by Homeland Security to transport the illegal. How did this terrors obtain a carry permit and pass a 10 finger back ground to work for this company? He was on watch list! But taken off! Why? We better get Trump or our country is going to belong to the TERRORS. OBAMA WANTSNOUR GUNS! HITLER ALL OVER AGAIN.
It is just unbeliefable!!!
Delta should have a back up system.
How is it possible they rely on one system?
Ever hear of Backup Generator Systems?? I wonder if Delta has this issue, how about other Airlines?
Read those airline magazines & Nothing said about Backup Power for Flight Reservation etc systems Nothing.
ALL airlines, Domestic & International alone
I say Upgrade. We pay enough in airfare, First class VIP Lounge fees, meals in flight alone to warrant ALL airlines should share a Common Flight Scheduling System alone, Then who will?
NO excuses.
Cant raise prices for Mismgmt.
Change policies, personnel BUT get IT Fixed.
We built our systems on assumption of electric being a constant. Trust me, Delta learned today.
Solar is great, can be independent, but way we were sold to do it is let Gov. control. And Gov given an inch will find a way to rob. Nothings free and clear unless you put in the work to own it,, every inch, no strings attached. That was the American way.
Hey I own Delta stock. Computer, ask Home Depot, if Gov incompetents weren’t linked …. Electricity outages, Dem gov shoving fake alarm again … must be global warming…what laying off SDGE? Now that makes sense. Delta isn’t big on global or electric or solar. USA, Trump. Gas will go down more and bless Delta for being USA.