Travellers might experience flight delays at Pearson Airport and Billy Bishop Airport throughout the day due to an IT outage that caused disruptions to industries across the globe on Friday morning.
Pearson noted that flights continue to arrive and depart at the airport, and as of now, Air Canada, Westjet, Sunwing, and Flair operations have not been affected.
“We’re still seeing issues with major American airlines (Delta, American, United) as well as Porter Airlines.” The airline stated in an X post early Friday morning. “If you’re travelling or picking up loved ones this morning, please check the flight status with your airline.”
Flights continue to arrive and depart at the airport. As of now, Air Canada, Westjet, Sunwing and Flair operations have not been affected.
We’re still seeing issues with major American airlines (Delta, American, United) as well as Porter Airlines.
If you’re travelling or picking… https://t.co/W4wFOOjfSO— Toronto Pearson (@TorontoPearson) July 19, 2024
Billy Bishop Airport confirmed that a global IT outage is affecting some airlines at the airport and may cause flight delays/cancellations, while Porter Airlines said they were cancelling flights until 12 p.m. on Friday “due to third-party systems outages affecting global industries”.
Porter is cancelling flights until 12 p.m. ET, for July 19, 2024, due to third-party systems outages affecting global industries. Visit https://t.co/1IdMdjaOrV for more information and updates. We’re working to return service asap.
— Porter Airlines (@porterairlines) July 19, 2024
While airline traffic in Canada is affected, the U.S. seems to be bearing the brunt of the damage regarding airline traffic — several U.S. carriers have issued ground stops for their flights early Friday due to communication problems, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.
12-hour timelapse of American Airlines, Delta, and United plane traffic after what was likely the biggest IT outage in history forced a nationwide ground stop of the three airlines. pic.twitter.com/wwcQeiEtVe
— Colin McCarthy (@US_Stormwatch) July 19, 2024
Multiple outlets are reporting that the outage is due to a fault with an update issued by cybersecurity company CrowdStrike.
George Kurtz, President and CEO of CrowdStrike, said on X that the company is actively working with customers impacted by a defect found in a single content update for Windows hosts. Mac and Linux hosts aren’t impacted, he said.
“This is not a security incident or cyberattack. The issue has been identified, isolated and a fix has been deployed,” he confirmed. “Our team is fully mobilized to ensure the security and stability of CrowdStrike customers.”
CrowdStrike is actively working with customers impacted by a defect found in a single content update for Windows hosts. Mac and Linux hosts are not impacted. This is not a security incident or cyberattack. The issue has been identified, isolated and a fix has been deployed. We…
— George Kurtz (@George_Kurtz) July 19, 2024
The website DownDetector, which provides real-time outage monitoring and alerting, is showing user-reported outages at several banks, including TD Bank (in Canada and the U.S.), particularly involving bank deposits and getting paid.
Hey @TD_Canada can you please give any sort of updates on when the systems will be up? I have bills to pay, literally $0 in the bank and would kind of like to have my paycheque…
— yssem issej (@humantrashbag) July 19, 2024
DownDetector is also showing user reports of outages at RBC (particularly with mobile and online banking), Scotiabank (deposits, mobile banking, and log-ins), Bank of Montreal (deposits, online log-ins, and account balance issues), CIBC (deposits, mobile banking, and fund transfers), Interac (with fund transfers, purchases, and payments), and Visa (website issues and logging in).
I can do any transactions on my @RBC app right now .. won’t let me transfer internally or externally. Wtf is going on?
— Q*Star Incoming (@TheKingPays) July 19, 2024
People are even having trouble accessing their Microsoft 365 apps and services.
As for GTA hospitals — North York General Hospital noted that some of its systems at are impacted by the IT outage.
“Clinical activity is continuing as scheduled although some patients may experience delays. Please contact your care team should you have questions. Thank you for your understanding,” the hospital stated on X.
The University Health Network posted that they are continuing to restore systems impacted by the CrowdStrike outage.
“Clinical activity continues although some delays are possible. In instances where an appointment may need to be rescheduled, patients will be contacted by their care team. We appreciate your understanding.”
