Computer failures ground Delta flights worldwide
Update 11:00 am ET:
Delta has restored its computer system and has lifted the ground stop for flights not already in the air. In an updated release published by the airline, it warned that delays and cancellations will still occur for travelers.
Planning for such delays could be complicated by the fact that the company’s website may lag in posting accurate flight times.
Delta has issued travel waivers through Friday for passengers to rebook flights without penalty.
The cause of the computer failure was attributed to a power outage in Atlanta that began at around 2:30 am ET.
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A massive worldwide computer failure frustrated the flight plans of thousands of would-be Delta passengers early Monday morning. The cause of the network failure was not made clear, as the airline did not respond to a request for information.
Delta’s Twitter feed continually provided the information that flights in the air were operating, but that passengers on the ground should check for delays.
“Due to a computer outage, flights awaiting departure are currently delayed. Flights enroute are operating normally. And customers should check the status of their flight before heading to the airport while the issue is being addressed,” one message string read.
Passengers hoping to travel were spending the night in terminals or on tarmacs in many cities. Corey Christensen, 32, was stuck on a plane for more than four hours at Los Angeles International Airport. He wrote via text message that only about half of his flight was boarded before the process was stopped.
“Captain said while they can board using their old backup system.. They can’t take off since the plane isn’t linked up to their main data link,” Christensen wrote.
Others, stranded in terminals, shared photos of people sleeping as they waited for flights to resume.
Airport slumber party in Anchorage, courtesy of the @Delta global systems outage pic.twitter.com/2wfHpB5lrB
— Janet (@KiloIndiaMike) August 8, 2016
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