AUSTIN (KXAN) — Transportation service CapMetro and the Austin Bergstrom International Airport are being affected by a global technology outage at a cybersecurity company based in Austin Friday morning.
A global technology outage at cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike grounded flights, knocked banks offline and media outlets off air on Friday in a massive disruption that affected companies and services around the world, according to reporting from the Associated Press.
The issue affected Microsoft 365 apps and services across the globe. Company leaders said the issue was not caused by a security incident or cyberattack, that the issue was identified and a fix is in the works.
AUS said on social media early Friday morning the outage was affecting airlines that serve the airport, and anyone flying out should check their flight status before heading to the airport.
At least two American flights and one Delta flight departing from AUS were canceled early Friday morning. The FAA said several airlines including United, American, Delta and Allegiant had requested assistance with ground stops.
CapMetro also posted online that it was being impacted by the outage and that customers could experience delays. “We apologize for any inconvenience and we will update any possible service disruptions here and on our website,” the transportation provider said in the post.
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Lines at AUS on Friday, July 19, 2024. The airport experienced some issues as certain airlines were impacted by an outage at cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike. The outage affected Microsoft 365 apps and services across the globe. (KXAN Photo/Mercedez Hernandez) -
Lines at AUS on Friday, July 19, 2024. The airport experienced some issues as certain airlines were impacted by an outage at cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike. The outage affected Microsoft 365 apps and services across the globe. (KXAN Photo/Todd Bailey)
CrowdStrike CEO George Kurtz said on X at 4:45 a.m. Friday that the company is “actively working with customers impacted by a defect found in a single content update for Windows hosts.”
“This is not a security incident or cyberattack,” Kurtz continued in the post. “The issue has been identified, isolated and a fix has been deployed. We refer customers to the support portal for the latest updates and will continue to provide complete and continuous updates on our website. We further recommend organizations ensure they’re communicating with CrowdStrike representatives through official channels. Our team is fully mobilized to ensure the security and stability of CrowdStrike customers.”
The company is primarily based in Austin, though it operates mostly remote globally, according to its website. In 2021, it changed its designation of its principal executive office to Austin.
KXAN has also reached out to local police departments and EMS services to ask if they’ve been impacted by the outages.