Tanzania’s aviation braces for disruption after cyber outage hits Microsoft's Falcon sensor
What you need to know:
- On a positive note, Tanzania’s banking and telecom sectors weathered the storm
Dar es Salaam. The aviation sector in Tanzania has been impacted by a cyber outage warning, potentially disrupting passenger numbers following a crash in Microsoft’s Windows operating system related to its Falcon Sensor.
Speaking to The Citizen, TCAA’s acting Director General Dan Malanga highlighted the widespread effects of the outage, emphasising that Tanzania, as a part of the global aviation network, has not been spared. "Air transport is a global industry," Mr Malanga stated.
"Arrivals in Tanzania come from all corners of the world, including countries directly affected by the global cyber outage. This includes airlines with interline agreements involving carriers from these affected countries."
While Mr Malanga did not specify the exact number of flights affected, he underscored Tanzania's reliance on international airlines.
"Locally, we are also affected because our domestic airlines depend on international carriers to feed passengers from local routes or those transferred from international flights to domestic destinations," he explained.
On a positive note, Tanzania’s banking and telecom sectors weathered the storm, as confirmed by TCRA's Director General, Dr Jabiri Bakari, and Tanzania Bankers’ Association (TBA) executive assistant Tuse Mwaikasu.
Dr Bakari assured that they were actively monitoring the situation and consulting with stakeholders to mitigate any potential harm.
"The issue primarily affects users of the Microsoft system, not all systems," Dr Bakari clarified. "We are vigilant and providing guidance to ensure minimal impact."
The disruption, caused by a configuration change in Microsoft's Azure-backed workloads affecting Office 365 apps and services, was also noted globally. According to Crowdstrike’s alert reviewed by Reuters, the Falcon Sensor software has been implicated in crashing Microsoft Windows, commonly known as the "Blue Screen of Death."
The aviation sector, particularly sensitive to timing, faces significant challenges due to this outage. Airports and airlines rely heavily on precise schedules managed by air traffic control. Even slight delays can disrupt flight schedules for an entire day, impacting both arrivals and departures.
While Tanzania’s banking and telecom sectors remain stable, the aviation industry grapples with the aftermath of the cyber outage, highlighting the sector's vulnerability to global technological disruptions.
Additional reporting by Gadiosa Lamtey and Rosemary Mirondo
