Delta Air Lines struggles with operational disruptions amid efforts for recovery

The primary issue has been Delta's inability to keep track of its crew and assign them to flights efficiently. This has resulted in planes and crews being out of position, leading to further operational challenges such as employees timing out and planes missing scheduled maintenance.

However, there are signs that systems are beginning to recover. Aviation watchdog JonNYC reported significant progress on crew tracking: "DL: Crew Tracking queue is below 1,000 for first time since Friday."

Meanwhile, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg announced that the Department of Transportation (DOT) has opened an investigation into Delta Air Lines' handling of passenger care during these disruptions. "All airline passengers have the right to be treated fairly," Buttigieg stated.

Critics argue that Delta has not fully acknowledged the extent of their issues publicly or taken ownership. They point out that despite having outdated technology and laying off IT staff last fall, Delta continues to blame external forces rather than addressing internal shortcomings directly.