Southwest Airlines Avoids Global IT Outage By Using Windows 3.1
The fourth-largest US airline, Southwest Airlines, avoided a major computer outage caused by a problematic CrowdStrike software update by using outdated operating systems Windows 3.1 and Windows 95.
Unlike competitors, Southwest was able to continue normal operations during a global IT outage that affected many companies around the world, including the largest US carriers. The problem was caused by a failed update to CrowdStrike's antivirus software, which caused a Blue Screen of Death (BSoD) on millions of computers.
Major airlines such as United Airlines, Delta Airlines and American Airlines have been forced to ground flights due to disruptions in their flight management and scheduling systems. Southwest, which uses Windows 3.1 and Windows 95 to schedule employees, simply couldn't technically receive the problematic update. While some Southwest passengers experienced delays due to airport disruptions, these issues were minimal compared to other carriers.
