New Delhi/Mumbai: Indian airlines faced widespread technical and operational disruptions following a global computer outage that led to chaos at airports, causing delays in passenger check-ins and prompting airlines to resort to manual boarding processes.
IndiGo, SpiceJet, and Akasa Air encountered disruptions in their online check-in systems, although stock exchanges and financial institutions, including banks, remained unaffected by the outage.
Also Read
Union Civil Aviation Minister Rammohan Naidu assured passengers that his ministry and the Airports Authority of India (AAI) were actively managing the situation using manual methods to minimize disruption.
"We have instructed all airlines and airport authorities to keep passengers informed about their flight status and provide necessary assistance," Naidu said.
IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw stated that his ministry was in contact with Microsoft regarding the outage, clarifying that the NIC network remained unaffected.
In a statement on social media platform X, Minister Vaishnaw confirmed that the cause of the outage had been identified, and updates were being implemented to resolve the issue. CERT-In (Computer Emergency Response Team) issued a critical advisory regarding the Microsoft outage caused by a Crowdstrike update.
IndiGo informed passengers via X that their systems were impacted by the Microsoft outage, affecting booking, check-in, boarding pass access, and some flights.
"We are actively working to restore stability and normalcy, coordinating closely with Microsoft Azure," IndiGo stated.
Akasa, a budget carrier, reported infrastructure issues with their service provider, leading to temporary unavailability of online services such as booking and check-in. They implemented manual check-in and boarding processes at airports.
Similarly, SpiceJet acknowledged technical challenges with their service provider affecting online services, prompting them to activate manual check-in and boarding processes across airports.
In Hyderabad's Rajiv Gandhi International Airport, 23 flights were cancelled, including several IndiGo flights. The airport management assured cooperation with stakeholders to minimise inconvenience to travellers.
In Bengaluru, airlines like IndiGo, Air India Express, SpiceJet, and Akasa issued handwritten boarding passes due to disruptions in flight services caused by a global outage with the Navitaire Departure Control System (NDCS).
A spokesperson from Bangalore International Airport Ltd (BIAL) confirmed the impact on operations since July 19, 2024, affecting airlines in both terminals. They noted proactive measures by affected airlines to mitigate disruption through manual check-in procedures.
Meanwhile, India's leading stock exchanges, NSE and BSE, confirmed normal operations unaffected by the global Microsoft outage that affected users worldwide.
As the situation evolves, airlines and airports continue to manage disruptions, emphasising passenger communication and operational adjustments to minimise travel disruptions. PTI
Published: 19 Jul 2024, 06:12 pm IST
Subscribe to our Newsletter
Disclaimer: Kindly avoid objectionable, derogatory, unlawful and lewd comments, while responding to reports. Such comments are punishable under cyber laws. Please keep away from personal attacks. The opinions expressed here are the personal opinions of readers and not that of Mathrubhumi.