CrowdStrike Defends Actions Amidst Delta’s Service Outage Allegations
CrowdStrike has responded strongly to Delta Air Lines’ CEO Ed Bastian’s allegations that the cybersecurity firm was responsible for a massive service disruption that cost the airline $500 million. In a letter addressed to Delta’s legal counsel, CrowdStrike’s legal team refuted claims of negligence and stated that Delta had ignored offers of assistance during the crisis.
The controversy stems from a widespread computer outage on July 19, triggered by a flawed software update from CrowdStrike, which affected Delta and numerous other companies globally. The outage led to significant disruptions in Delta’s operations, with thousands of flights canceled and an estimated half-million passengers stranded.
In an interview with CNBC, Bastian criticized CrowdStrike for not providing adequate support during the crisis, asserting that the company failed to offer any help or consulting services to mitigate the impact. He emphasized the importance of reliability in technology partnerships, especially in critical operations like Delta’s.
CrowdStrike, however, countered these claims in a letter from attorney Michael Carlinsky. The letter detailed how CrowdStrike CEO George Kurtz had personally offered onsite assistance to Bastian, but received no response. It further stated that Delta explicitly declined CrowdStrike’s help during the service outage, opting not to accept the support that could have potentially alleviated the crisis.
The cybersecurity firm expressed disappointment in Delta’s public accusations and warned that any litigation would force Delta to explain its own IT deficiencies and decision-making processes during the incident. CrowdStrike suggested that Delta’s failure to restore operations as quickly as other airlines and the refusal of onsite assistance would be critical points of scrutiny.
The letter also noted that CrowdStrike’s liability under their contract was limited to a modest sum, countering the financial implications suggested by Delta. Despite the contentious situation, CrowdStrike maintained that it had acted responsibly and transparently throughout the incident.
Delta has reportedly hired high-profile attorney David Boies to seek compensation from both CrowdStrike and Microsoft, whose Windows operating system was also impacted by the update. Bastian has emphasized the need to protect Delta’s stakeholders from both financial and reputational damage, suggesting that legal action may be imminent.
CrowdStrike has indicated its readiness to defend itself vigorously if the dispute escalates to court, aiming to protect its own shareholders, employees, and other stakeholders from any fallout.
