Microsoft outage: Indigo issues handwritten boarding pass, passenger's post goes viral. Airline reacts

The departure from digital systems sparked a range of responses on social media. (Image: @akothari/X)

A recent issue with CrowdStrike updates has triggered a significant disruption in Microsoft Windows services worldwide, causing the infamous “Blue Screen of Death” error on numerous computers. This widespread glitch has led to severe interruptions in various sectors, including the aviation industry.

IndiGo, one of India’s major airlines, has been notably affected and has resorted to issuing handwritten boarding passes to keep operations running amid the technical difficulties.

Akshay Kothari, a user on X, shared his experience, stating, “The Microsoft/CrowdStrike outage has taken down most airports in India. I got my first handwritten boarding pass today,” and included a photograph of the manually prepared pass. The image displayed all pertinent travel details, such as the passenger’s name, seat number, date, and departure time, inscribed by an IndiGo staff member.

The Microsoft / CrowdStrike outage has taken down most airports in India. I got my first hand-written boarding pass today pic.twitter.com/xsdnq1Pgjr

— Akshay Kothari (@akothari) July 19, 2024

The departure from digital systems sparked a range of responses on social media. Comments included remarks like, “We are going back to the Stone Age,” and “Nice souvenir to keep.” Others reflected on the nostalgic nature of handwritten passes, with one user commenting, “A handwritten boarding pass? That’s like a retro throwback to the pre-digital age!”

Another user commented,  Sometimes, the old-school way is still the best way when technology lets us down."

The post also caught the attention of the airline and it came out with a reply to Kothari's viral post. "A hand-written boarding pass—talk about an unexpected throwback! Thanks for your patience during the outage. We hope the retro vibe made your journey a bit more memorable. Safe travels and enjoy the classic touch!" Indigo wrote on X.

A hand-written boarding pass—talk about an unexpected throwback! Thanks for your patience during the outage. We hope the retro vibe made your journey a bit more memorable. Safe travels and enjoy the classic touch! https://t.co/S7NvaEdS2f— IndiGo (@IndiGo6E) July 19, 2024

Meanwhile, IndiGo issued a statement at 12:37 pm addressing the impact of the technical issues: “Our systems across the network are impacted by an ongoing issue with Microsoft Azure, resulting in increased wait times at our contact centres and airports. You may experience slower check-ins and longer queues. We are working diligently to restore normalcy and are coordinating closely with Microsoft Azure to resolve these issues promptly. We appreciate your patience and understanding during this time.”

The airline clarified that the outage was affecting various aspects of its operations, including “booking, check-in, access to boarding passes, and flights,” and advised passengers to contact them only if their travel was within 24 hours due to high contact centre volumes.

IndiGo also issued a travel advisory urging passengers to avoid making multiple booking attempts during the ongoing issue. “We are working closely with Microsoft to address the situation and appreciate your patience.”

Other airlines, including Air India and SpiceJet, also faced disruptions resulting in flight cancellations and delays. Air India noted, “Our digital systems have been temporarily impacted by the current Microsoft outage, causing delays. We apologise for the inconvenience and advise passengers to plan their travel accordingly.”