Stop blaming us for cancelled flights

(AP) – Cybersecurity software company CrowdStrike is in a dispute with Delta Air Lines over who is to blame for damages the airline suffered during a global technology outage.

Delta’s CEO has threatened to sue CrowdStrike, seeking what he says is $500 million in lost revenue and additional costs related to the cancellation of thousands of flights.

However, CrowdStrike’s lawyer argues the company’s liability should be less than $10 million.

Michael Carlinsky wrote in a letter sent Sunday to Delta attorney David Boies that the airline’s threat to sue “contributed to the misleading narrative that CrowdStrike was responsible for Delta’s IT decisions and response to the outage.”

CrowdStrike’s lawyer wondered why other airlines recovered from the crash so much faster. “He said the software company took responsibility for its actions, while Delta did not.”

A flawed CrowdStrike software update installed on more than 8 million Microsoft Windows computers crippled airlines, banks, retailers and other businesses on July 19.

Delta CEO Ed Bastian raised the lawsuit threat last week on CNBC. He said Delta is more dependent on Microsoft Windows than other airlines.

The Atlanta-based airline has hired Boies’ law firm to handle the case. Bastian said CrowdStrike has not offered Delta any assistance beyond offering free consulting advice. CrowdStrike said its CEO, George Kurtz, personally contacted Bastian to offer assistance but has not received a response.

The U.S. Department of Transportation is investigating why it took Delta longer to recover than other airlines.

Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said his department will also look into complaints about Delta’s customer service, including long waits for help and reports of unaccompanied minors stranded at airports.