Jordanian airports unaffected by global IT glitch, says civil aviation director

Captain Haitham Misto, Director of the Civil Aviation Regulatory Commission (CARC), confirmed to Roya that Jordanian airports and airspace have not been affected by the global technical defect impacting various sectors, including airports and agencies worldwide.

Misto stated on Friday that the CARC and relevant authorities are continuously monitoring and auditing computer and electronic devices at Jordanian airports to ensure their safety and prevent external influences from global technical issues.

Regarding the impact on air travel, Misto explained that aviation systems are globally interconnected, and malfunctions in airport systems can cause confusion among international airlines, particularly the largest ones, until their flights are rescheduled after repairing the faults.

Read more: Global IT glitch disrupts airlines, banks, media

He noted that such disruptions directly affect global air traffic and will take time for travel stability to return. Some flights to Jordan have been affected due to malfunctions at the airports of departure.

Approximately 7 million people travel daily between the world's airports, and defects in major airports can impact air traffic to and from Jordan and globally.

Earlier Friday, Microsoft services, including Microsoft 365 applications, experienced widespread outages. Many institutions, including banks and airlines, were affected as Microsoft announced efforts to fix the issue gradually. While the exact cause remains unclear, Microsoft reported a "positive trend" in service availability on the X website, although issues persist in several regions.

DownDetector, which tracks internet outages, recorded increased reports involving companies like Visa, ADT Security, Amazon, and airlines such as Delta and American Airlines.

In Australia, airlines, telecommunications providers, banks, and media were affected. Some New Zealand banks also reported online service outages. Microsoft is working to redirect traffic to alternative systems to reduce the impact.

Australia's outages included banks and airlines like Qantas and Virgin Australia, as well as internet and phone providers like Telstra. Media outlets, including ABC and Sky News, had to stop broadcasting on their TV and radio channels due to Windows computer issues.