By BBC

A major IT outage has impacted a wide range of Australian institutions, including major banks, media outlets, and airlines. The disruption has caused significant operational issues, with flights grounded at Sydney airport, supermarkets experiencing checkout problems, and broadcast networks struggling to maintain normal operations.

Summary of the ImpactAirlines:

Several airlines, including budget carrier Jetstar and Virgin Australia, faced severe disruptions. Jetstar announced that an “issue with Microsoft” prevented the check-in and boarding of passengers, while Virgin Australia experienced a “complete ground stop” of flights.

Supermarkets: Stores like Woolworths reported significant delays due to downed payment systems, resulting in long queues.

Media Outlets: Broadcast networks were left scrambling on air as critical systems, including autocue, graphics, and computers, failed.

Banks and Telecom: The National Australia Bank and telecom firm Telstra were among the institutions reporting issues, according to Australian.

The exact cause of the outage remains unclear, though many affected parties have linked it to issues with Microsoft PC operating systems. An official Microsoft 365 service update indicated that the company was investigating problems affecting users’ ability to access various apps and services.

Australia’s cybersecurity watchdog stated that there is currently no evidence to suggest a cybersecurity incident.

Prior to the major impact in Australia, several airlines in the US also reported delays and cancellations due to IT issues, highlighting the widespread nature of the disruption.As investigations continue, the affected institutions are working to restore normal operations and minimize further disruptions to services.