Delta must face passenger lawsuit over massive computer outage

Jonathan Stempel

Tue, May 6, 2025, 2:28 PM 2 min read

By Jonathan Stempel

(Reuters) -Delta Air Lines indispensable look a projected people enactment by passengers who said it refused to connection afloat refunds aft delaying oregon canceling their flights pursuing a monolithic machine outage past July, a national justice ruled connected Tuesday.

U.S. District Judge Mark Cohen successful Atlanta said 5 of the 9 plaintiffs whitethorn prosecute breach of declaration claims based connected Delta's nonaccomplishment to refund.

The justice allowed a antithetic radical of 5 plaintiffs to prosecute claims related to delayed and canceled flights nether the Montreal Convention, a multilateral treaty.

Cohen dismissed the remaining claims, including those helium said were preempted by national law.

The July 19, 2024 outage stemmed from a flawed bundle update from cybersecurity institution CrowdStrike that crashed much than 8 cardinal computers and affected galore Microsoft customers.

Disruptions eased the adjacent time for galore U.S. airlines but lasted longer astatine Delta, which canceled astir 7,000 flights.

"This ruling is simply a large measurement guardant for Delta passengers seeking accountability," Joseph Sauder, a lawyer for immoderate of the plaintiffs, said successful an email.

Neither Delta nor its lawyers instantly responded to requests for comment.

The Atlanta-based bearer had sought the dismissal of each claims, speech from 1 refund assertion and planetary travelers' claims nether the Montreal Convention.

Passengers accused Delta of failing to supply automatic refunds pursuing the outage, and providing partial refunds lone if they waived further ineligible claims.

One plaintiff, John Brennan of Florida, said helium and his woman missed a $10,000 day cruise aft Delta stranded them successful an Atlanta layover, yet the bearer offered conscionable $219.45 successful compensation.

Another plaintiff, Vittorio Muzzi of the Netherlands, said helium spent 5,000 euros ($5,685) and his luggage was delayed 15 days aft Delta scrapped his formation to Florida from Amsterdam, yet the bearer offered conscionable 588 euros ($669) successful compensation.

Delta has estimated that the outage outgo $550 cardinal successful mislaid gross and added costs, portion redeeming $50 cardinal of fuel.

The lawsuit is Bajra et al v Delta Air Lines, U.S. District Court, Northern District of Georgia, No. 24-03477.

(1 euro = $1.137)

(Reporting by Jonathan Stempel successful New YorkEditing by Bill Berkrot)