Tech Outage Hits MA: Hospitals, MBTA, RMV, Logan Flights Impaired

MASSACHUSETTS — A Microsoft outage early Friday morning crippled computers across the globe, delaying flights, shutting down 911 and banking systems and even preventing TV broadcasts, and systems across Massachusetts were also affected.

As of Friday morning, the MBTA reported that its real-time scheduling systems were not working, leaving bus and Commuter Rail riders without crucial information. Mass General Brigham canceled scheduled appointments and non-urgent surgeries. Logan and Worcester airports warned travelers to check in on flights due to cancellations and delays.

"Due to a global computer outage affecting airlines, many flights are being delayed or cancelled. Please check with your airline before coming to the airport," Logan Airport tweeted.

Dozens of flights were either delayed or canceled as of 8 a.m. Friday, according to the airport's schedule. Only one arrival at Worcester Airport was delayed.

The MBTA said "bus tracking and in-station signage may be incorrect or unavailable" due to the software issue. The Registry of Motor Vehicles, meanwhile, canceled all appointments scheduled before noon on Friday.

Mass General Brigham — which operates 15 hospitals in the state, including Newton-Wellesley, Faulkner, Spaulding Rehabilitation and Salem Hospital — said its facilities would be openly primarily for urgent matters due to the software issue.

"Mass General Brigham remains open to provide care to patients with urgent health concerns in our clinics and emergency departments, and we continue to care for all patients currently receiving care in our hospitals," a spokesperson said. "We have dedicated every available resource to resolve this issue as quickly as possible, and we apologize for the inconvenience this has caused our patients. It is our highest priority to ensure that our patients receive the safest care possible."

Cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike said that the issue believed to be behind the outage was not a security incident or cyberattack — and that a fix was on the way. The company said the problem occurred when it deployed a faulty update to computers running Microsoft Windows.

The problem was first detected early Friday when computers in Australia running Microsoft Windows would not turn on, showing users the "blue screen of death."

DownDectector, which tracks user-reported disruptions to internet services, recorded that airlines, payment platforms and online shopping websites across the world were affected — although the disruption appeared piecemeal and was apparently related to whether the companies used Microsoft cloud-based services.

The Associated Press contributed material to this report