Judge Rules Delta Air Lines Must Face Lawsuit Following Outage

A class action lawsuit against Delta Air Lines surrounding the carrier’s response to a crippling July 2024 computer outage has been given the green light by a judge.

Key Insights

Delta Air Lines faces legal action for not providing full refunds post massive July 2024 flight disruptions.
Judge Mark Cohen has allowed five plaintiffs to sue for breach of contract.
A CrowdStrike software flaw caused the outage, affecting millions worldwide, including Delta’s systems.
Delta cancelled 7,000 flights, estimating $550 million in financial loss, despite saving on fuel.

Lawsuit Details and Court Approvals

Delta Air Lines is facing legal action after a July 2024 computer outage in which Delta passengers experienced flight delays and cancellations. Judge Mark Cohen has allowed five plaintiffs to proceed with breach-of-contract claims, opening doors for more under the Montreal Convention to seek redress for the service disruptions. The passengers who are suing claim that Delta would not provide full refunds after the issues caused by the outage.

The legal case, filed in the US District Court, Northern District of Georgia, sees passengers challenging Delta’s responses to the outage. Delta’s actions include allegations of only offering partial compensation under the condition of waiving further legal claims.

Impact of the CrowdStrike Error

The software issue originated from a CrowdStrike update last year, which led to massive disruptions globally. Over 8 million systems, including those of Delta Air Lines, encountered severe crashes. Delta absorbed a substantial loss in revenues but saved in operational costs like fuel.

The direct financial implications reportedly reached $550 million due to the outages. While many airlines were reportedly affected, Delta was more severely affected and was still experiencing problems well after other systems got back up and running.

Delta must face passenger lawsuit over massive computer outage https://t.co/LWV8F16vKl pic.twitter.com/wR30SGoIEl

— Reuters Legal (@ReutersLegal) May 6, 2025

Broader Implications for Airlines

This incident showcases the susceptibility of airline systems to IT failures. While Delta awaits further legal proceedings, industry watchers highlight vital lessons about resilience and customer handling during IT mishaps.

Delta declined to comment directly on the court’s decisions. The ongoing litigation against CrowdStrike is another facet, adding complexity to the situation. Passengers continue to pursue justice, painting a vivid picture of the digital dependencies airlines carry.