Worldwide Windows outage could impact flights, Schiphol warns
Last update 9:45 a.m.
Windows computers worldwide are crashing due to an error in the software of cybersecurity company Crowdstrike. Schiphol Airport is also impacted and warned that the outage could cause flight delays and cancellations. Eindhoven Airport also reported issues.
“At the moment, we can say there is a global disruption that is having an impact on flights to and from Schiphol. We are gathering information and assessing what the impact is for us.”
He could not immediately say what, if any, of Schiphol’s own systems were affected by the issue. However, he noted that other organizations, like airlines and air traffic control, all use their own systems and technology.
Passengers due to fly on Friday should remain in contact with their airline and should also keep a close watch on Schiphol’s own website and social media channels, the airport advised.
A Transavia spokesperson confirmed to NOS that the outage has impacted its flights. “This is going to be a messy day.” He couldn’t say how many flights were affected or how long the issues would last.
“All of our systems are running,” said a spokesperson for Dutch air traffic control organization LVNL. There were not any capacity issues as of 9:30 a.m., but any impact on flights is more likely related to airport or airline systems.
There are IT issues “at several airports” in Europe, but these are not connected to air traffic control, said European coordinator Eurocontrol. The Network Manager Operations Centre in Brussels is helping to coordinate a response, and is “monitoring the situation.”
A recent update in Crowdstrike’s Falcon cybersecurity software is causing Windows computers worldwide to constantly restart, also known as a boot loop. There are reports from all over the world. The software provides protection against cyber threats like ransomware and has extensive rights on the system, so issues can have a major impact on a computer.
Because the Crowdstrike software runs on both Windows computers and servers, the impact could be massive, experts told RTL Nieuws.
The benefits agency UWV reported problems from the outage. And journalists from DPG, which publishes NU.nl and the Volkskrant, among others, can’t start their computers.
Treant hospitals in the north of the country canceled all their scheduled surgeries due to the outage. The hospitals also can’t take in any patients in the outpatient clinics, and the emergency room in Emmen and emergency posts on Hogeveen and Stadskanaal are closed. A spokesperson told ANP that ambulances are taking patients to other hospitals in the area. Hospitals in Achterhoek and Slingeland also reported issues.
NS, the police, and the Koninklijke Marechaussee are all unaffected. The outage also did not impact the ANWB’s road traffic signs.
