Quantcast

Delta faces hurdles in lawsuit against CrowdStrike over flight cancellations

Delta faces hurdles in lawsuit against CrowdStrike over flight cancellations
Research
Webp p18pueyozwbyaegyt1fzg7i1qaau
View from the Wing | View from the Wing

Delta Air Lines canceled more flights last month than in 2018 and 2019 combined, following an outage involving their cybersecurity provider, CrowdStrike. The airline delayed addressing customer concerns, denied responsibility for the disruptions, and its CEO attended the Paris Olympics during the crisis.

Delta has announced plans to sue CrowdStrike for damages, asserting that the outage was not their fault. However, Delta faces several challenges in this legal pursuit:

- They must demonstrate gross negligence by CrowdStrike rather than mere negligence. Proving intentional or reckless behavior is necessary.

Get the Newsletter
Sign-up to receive weekly round up of news from Sky Industry News
By submitting, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. By providing your phone number you are opting in and consenting to receive recurring SMS/MMS messages, including automated texts, to that number from our short code. Msg & data rates may apply. Reply HELP for help, STOP to end. SMS opt-in will not be sold, rented, or shared.

- Their contract with CrowdStrike limits potential damages.

- Delta's own cost-saving measures, including reductions in IT staff, may have exacerbated the situation.

CrowdStrike responded to Delta’s legal threat by expressing regret and apologizing for the incident. They stated: "Public posturing about potentially bringing a meritless lawsuit against CrowdStrike as a long-time partner is not constructive to any party. We hope that Delta will agree to work cooperatively to find a resolution."

CrowdStrike's legal team noted that Delta’s meltdown was unprecedented among airlines and highlighted attempts to assist Delta during the crisis: "CrowdStrike’s CEO personally reached out to Delta’s CEO to offer onsite assistance but received no response." They added that further offers of support were declined by Delta.

They argued that the severity of the meltdown resulted from “Delta’s IT decisions and response to the outage.” Additionally, they emphasized that liability is contractually capped at an amount in the single-digit millions.

CrowdStrike suggested that litigation could expose deficiencies in Delta's IT infrastructure and operational resilience. Such revelations might harm Delta's premium reputation more than any potential financial recovery from a lawsuit.

Organizations Included in this History
More News

Airbus has released its order and delivery statistics for May, revealing that the company did not secure any new orders during the month.

Jun 9, 2025

Wizz Air is set to increase its capacity by approximately 20% in the year leading up to March 2026, despite facing challenges with a portion of its fleet being grounded due to Pratt & Whitney GTF engine issues.

Jun 9, 2025

ITA Airways is reportedly planning to expand its operations by launching over a dozen new long-haul routes in the next five years.

Jun 9, 2025

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) plans to suspend airline operations at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport on the evening of June 14.

Jun 9, 2025

Wizz Air Abu Dhabi, a joint venture between Hungary-based Wizz Air and Abu Dhabi Developmental Holding Company (ADQ), has experienced significant changes since its launch in January 2021.

Jun 9, 2025

Southwest Airlines, the fourth-largest airline in the United States, has reported a total of 4,194 daily movements for June.

Jun 9, 2025