Michigan businesses, airports and unemployment agency impacted by global IT outage

Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency office, Lansing | Susan J. Demas

Airports, news stations, hospitals and banks worldwide are experiencing a technology outage due to a flawed update from cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike.

The outage, which is causing issues with computers running Microsoft Windows, was not the product of a cyberattack, CrowdStike advised on Friday.

IT glitch causing delays in flights, business operations globally

The impact in Michigan has been widely felt on Friday. 

At the Canadian-Detroit border, alerts for extended wait times at the Ambassador Bridge and the Detroit Windsor Tunnel as of 12:45 p.m. are being shown by the Canadian government. The Detroit Windsor Tunnel advises that those going from Detroit to Windsor are going to be delayed more than 20 minutes as border agents do checks manually.

University of Michigan Health System reports experiencing technical issues causing minor delays in patients accessing services, but it is not canceling procedures or appointments as of yet, while some hospitals in the U.S. have had to do so.

The Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency (UIA) says that phone and online chat lines are limited.

Agents at UIA are currently unable to speak with individuals online and the state doesn’t know when the issues will be resolved, the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity said in an advisory.

Individuals who need to access information can go in-person to their local UIA office and  speak to an agent or use the Michigan Web Account Manager (MiWAM). The UIA’s frequently asked questions resources are still available online and limited claim information can be accessed over the customer service line.

Several airlines are experiencing issues and local Detroit news outlets are reporting long lines and crowds of delayed passengers at Detroit Metro Airport, as popular airlines such as Delta are experiencing issues with technology.

As of 12:45 p.m., dozens of flights going out of Detroit Metro Airport were listed as delayed by FlightView’s online tracker.

The MBS Airport in Saginaw and Alpena Regional Airport also have been experiencing excessive delays, per the Detroit News.

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