Microsoft has teamed up with cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike to counter Delta Air Lines’ allegations that their technology caused thousands of flight cancellations due to a recent outage.
On Tuesday, Microsoft’s lawyer, Mark Cheffo, stated that Delta’s primary IT system is likely maintained by other technology companies, not Microsoft Windows.
“Your letter and Delta’s public comments are incomplete, false, misleading, and damaging to Microsoft and its reputation,” Cheffo wrote to Delta attorney David Boies.
Cheffo added that Microsoft is investigating why other airlines managed to restore their operations much quicker than Delta.
These remarks mark an intensifying conflict between the tech firms and the Atlanta-based airline.
Delta CEO Ed Bastian recently claimed that a global technology outage, triggered by a faulty CrowdStrike upgrade on Microsoft Windows machines, cost the airline $500 million. Bastian also hinted at potential legal action.
Delta stated on Tuesday that it has a long-standing commitment to reliable service, including “billions of dollars in IT capital expenditures” since 2016 and additional billions in annual IT costs. The airline declined to comment further.
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CrowdStrike has also denied Delta’s accusations. Both companies indicated that Delta declined their offers to assist in recovering from last month’s outage. According to Microsoft’s lawyer, CEO Satya Nadella reached out to Bastian during the incident, but received no response.
