A federal judge has decided that Delta Air Lines must confront a class action lawsuit related to flight cancellations and delays from last July, caused by issues with their computer systems.
US District Judge Mark Cohen has allowed five plaintiffs to proceed with claims of breach of contract concerning inadequate refunds from Delta. Notably, nine plaintiffs sought legal action after the airline canceled over 4,500 flights between July 19 and 21, 2024.
The airline indicated that it was unable to restart operations due to interruptions involving CrowdStrike and Microsoft. However, the plaintiffs claim that CrowdStrike reached out to Delta soon after the incident, with their CEO personally offering on-site assistance to Delta’s CEO, who allegedly turned down the help.
One plaintiff, John Brennan from Florida, expressed frustration about missing a significant anniversary cruise after being stuck during a layover in Atlanta. According to him, Delta only provided a meager compensation of $219.45.
Delta has sought to dismiss the lawsuit, citing the Airlines Deregulation Act of 1978, which eliminated federal oversight of airline pricing, routes, and market entry.
Cohen agreed to dismiss four of the cases under this law, yet allowed the other five to proceed under the Montreal Convention, which dictates airline liability in situations concerning passenger injuries, fatalities, and baggage or cargo issues.
Delta has yet to respond to inquiries from Hill regarding this matter.
