A major IT outage impacted approximately 8.5 million Microsoft Windows devices globally. The disruption stemmed from a flawed update released by cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike, which led to widespread issues across various sectors, including healthcare, transportation, and retail.

Microsoft confirmed that while the update impacted less than 1% of all Windows devices, the effects were severe due to the critical services relying on these systems. The outage caused numerous flight cancellations, disruptions in healthcare systems, and problems with booking appointments at GP surgeries across the UK. Nearly 7,000 flights were canceled globally, with airlines like American Airlines and Southwest Airlines facing operational challenges​.

CrowdStrike swiftly identified and deployed a fix for the issue, but full recovery is expected to take some time. The incident highlights the interconnected nature of the global tech ecosystem and underscores the importance of rigorous testing and safe deployment practices to prevent such widespread disruptions in the future​.