A global tech outage brought many computer systems and businesses to a screeching halt. Here's what happened

A global software outage on Friday caused significant disruptions across various sectors, including business, healthcare, technology, and government. The outage lasted less than 12 hours, affecting computer systems worldwide. The following is a breakdown of the events during the outage:

• Late Thursday night and early Friday, 911 centers and transportation services faced disruptions.
• Between 2 and 3 a.m., the Federal Aviation Administration grounded flights from several airlines.
• Public transit systems in the Northeast experienced delays around 5-6 a.m.
• Software company CrowdStrike reported crashes in its cybersecurity software for Windows operating systems.
• Global banks, including Commonwealth Bank and Capitec, reported service disruptions.
• The Mayor of Portland issued an emergency declaration due to an outage in the Bureau of Emergency Communication’s system.
• Some flights resumed between 8 and 9 a.m., with airports preparing for a busy day.
• Federal agencies, including the White House and the Department of Homeland Security, began investigating the outage.
• Social Security offices closed to the public, and the Department of Justice experienced technology impacts.
• Several healthcare systems announced disruptions, with some hospitals canceling non-urgent surgeries and appointments.
• Medical supply providers and blood centers experienced delays in distribution and reporting.
• Flight operations continued to experience delays and cancellations on Saturday.

The outage affected millions of Windows devices and had broad economic and societal impacts. Airlines warned customers of ongoing disruptions, and thousands of flights were delayed or canceled.