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CrowdStrike, Delta sue each other over flight disruptions

Cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike stated on Monday it took legal action against Delta Air Lines in U.S. District Court in Georgia after a malfunctioning software application update triggered a worldwide blackout in July.

The July 19 occurrence led to worldwide flight cancellations and strike industries including banks, healthcare, media companies and hotel chains.

CrowdStrike said it took legal action against to explain that CrowdStrike did not trigger the damage that Delta claims, and that Delta consistently refused help from both CrowdStrike and Microsoft. Delta did not right away discuss CrowdStrike's fit.

CrowdStrike is seeking a declaratory judgment plus legal costs.

Delta's suit filed on Friday in Fulton County Superior Court called the faulty software upgrade from CrowdStrike devastating and said the company forced untried and defective updates to its clients, causing more than 8.5 million Microsoft Windows-based computer systems worldwide to crash.

Delta said the faulty update triggered 7,000 flight cancellations, interrupted travel plans of 1.3 million consumers and cost the carrier more than $500 million.

CrowdStrike's lawsuit, also filed on Friday, said Delta's. own action and technology triggered hold-ups in the carrier's. capability to resume typical operations.

CrowdStrike's suit repeated its contention that it has. minimal liability, something Delta rejected.

Delta said CrowdStrike is responsible for over $500 million in. out-of-pocket losses along with for undefined lost earnings,. expenditures - including legal fees - reputational damage and. future income loss.

The occurrence triggered the U.S. Transport Department to. open an investigation.

If CrowdStrike had actually tested the malfunctioning upgrade on even one. computer before deployment, the computer would have crashed,. Delta's suit states.

Delta said it has actually invested billions of dollars in. infotech licensing and facilities.

Last month, a senior CrowdStrike executive apologized before. Congress for the faulty software application update.

(source: Reuters)