Global IT Outage Hits Airports and Businesses

A global IT outage has caused widespread disruption across airports, airlines, banks, media, and other businesses worldwide. Major airports such as Heathrow, Schiphol, and East Midlands have reported issues with check-in systems, baggage handling, and security, leading to delays. Ryanair, American Airlines, and United Airlines are among the affected carriers, with passengers being advised to arrive early and expect longer wait times. The outage, believed to be linked to a software update from cybersecurity firm Crowdstrike, has also affected the London Stock Exchange and various railway operators. Microsoft and Crowdstrike are investigating and taking mitigation actions to resolve the issues. Amid the chaos, travel disruptions are expected to continue, particularly at UK airports facing additional challenges like staff shortages and new post-Brexit border rules.