Authority investigates Delta’s handling of computer outages

TULSA, Oklahoma – As the airline industry recovers from the Crowdstrike incident, authorities are getting involved.

Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg announced that his agency would investigate Delta’s handling of the debacle.

Rusty Gunn of Sand Springs flew to Atlanta on Delta without any problems. The return flight to Tulsa was in doubt due to the worldwide computer outage. Before Gunn went to bed late Friday night, he checked his Delta app.

“My flight was still on time, so I was happy with that,” Gunn said. “I assumed they would have everything sorted out by the next morning.”

Gunn’s hopes were dashed when his flight to Tulsa was canceled. As he was weaving through the crowds at Atlanta airport, he met a Delta agent among them. He asked about his options. The agent had bad news.

“If you’re thinking about getting a flight today, the chances are zero,” the agent said.

So Gunn weighed his options. He kept his rental car and drove it all the way to Tulsa, arriving back in the city around 9:30 p.m. on Saturday.

“I’m hearing a lot of things that are very concerning to me, including people being on hold for hours trying to get a new flight,” Buttigieg said in announcing the investigation.

Gunn can confirm this.

“The message I received told me I would have to wait 1,145 minutes,” Gunn said.

That’s about 19 hours.

Ed Bastian, CEO of Delta, addressed the problems.

“Please be assured that Delta’s entire team of the industry’s best professionals is working around the clock to get you to your destination safely and restore the reliable, on-time experience you expect when flying with us,” Bastian said in a statement.

Gunn is in heaven about every two weeks. This wasn’t his first rodeo and he says kindness is key.

“These agents … they’re doing their jobs, they’re doing their best, it’s certainly not their fault, so keep that in mind when you talk to people,” Gunn said.

Delta promised Gunn a full refund of his airfare. Passengers affected by a Delta flight cancellation can request a refund here.

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