Microsoft global outage: Kerala airports resort to manual procedures, services delayed

Kerala: In the wake of a global outage affecting Microsoft Windows, airports in Kerala switched operations to manual mode on Friday.

Authorities have informed that only the check-in procedures of IndiGo Airlines at Thiruvananthapuram airport have been affected. In a press release, it was clarified that all services, including those of IndiGo, are operating on time.

Six flights from Nedumbassery were delayed, including domestic services to Bengaluru. There was no need to cancel any services, and the issue has been resolved, Microsoft informed, according to CIAL authorities who spoke to Mathrubhumi.com.

It has been reported that Kannur and Calicut airports have reverted several procedures, including check-in, to manual mode.

IndiGo and other airlines are providing passengers with handwritten boarding passes. The boarding passes include details such as the passenger's name, departure location, and destination. The flight number, seat number, and boarding time are also written on them. Various airlines have issued warnings that their online services are disrupted and they are continuing efforts to resolve the problem.

Dr Kesavan Suresh Babu, who has been awaiting an IndiGo flight to Bengaluru from Kozhikode airport, reported that the flight has been delayed by almost two hours. “The flight was scheduled for 14:15. However, an email from IndiGo received at the scheduled time informed that the service was delayed due to operational reasons. It has been rescheduled to 16:35. Check-in procedures began after 14:00. Priority is given to those with web check-in, then to passengers connecting through Bengaluru, and finally to those travelling to Bengaluru as their final destination,” he said.

Microsoft users globally, several in India, have reported massive outages in services, with outage tracking website Downdetector showing users flagging disruptions across various services.

Globally, the Microsoft cloud outage led to US airlines cancelling flights, but the tech giant later reportedly said its cloud services outage in the Central US region has been resolved.

A new Crowdstrike (cybersecurity software firm) update is being cited as the cause of the outage, which has impacted Windows-based desktop and laptops.

Microsoft, crowdstrike and Windows are trending on X (formerly Twitter).

On outage tracking website Downdetector, users reported problems across Microsoft line-up including Azure, and Teams.

Microsoft said it is investigating the issue "impacting users ability to access various Microsoft 365 apps and services".

"Our services are still seeing continuous improvements while we continue to take mitigation actions," according to Microsoft 365 Status post on X.

The glitch is causing users to see the Blue Screen of Death error messages, and there are widespread reports of disruptions in international airlines, banks and media outlets.

"Blue screen of death reported at multiple companies - Crowd Strike attack. Are you also facing ??," wrote a user on X.

With PTI inputs