New York’s airports are dealing with the repercussions of a massive global internet outage affecting infrastructure equipped with Microsoft Windows-based technology.
The outage occurred during the wee hours New York time and is not believed to be the result of a security incident or a cyberattack, according to international cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike. The problem started, the firm noted, when it attempted to install a faulty update onto computers with Windows operating systems.
The CrowdSstrike failure is not impacting flight operations at the Port Authority, but “some airlines are experiencing delays/cancellations.” The Port Authority advises commuters to check with their carriers to confirm their flight status before heading to JFK, LaGuardia or Newark-Liberty Airports this morning.
As of 8:30 a.m. July 19, computers used by Customs and Border Protection were slowly coming back online. Passengers should be prepared for residual delays.
Critical New York City infrastructure is up and running despite the outage, according to Mayor Eric Adams. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), he said the 911 call system has not been impacted.
“I want everyone to know: We have no reason to believe this is anything other than a bad update from CrowdStrike,” Adams said. The mayor is scheduled to hold a briefing about the outage Friday morning.
New York state’s Chief Cyber Officer Colin Ahern said Gov. Kathy Hochul is “closely monitoring impacts to critical infrastructure, including finance and transportation. We recognize the impact this is having on services, not only across New York but also globally.”
Stay tuned to amNY.com for more updates as they become available.
