Father distressed as Delta Air Lines leaves his children stranded
A Georgia father, J.R. Reed, is facing a nightmare as his three children, aged 10, 12 and 15, remain stranded in different airports following a significant global IT outage affecting Delta Air Lines. The outage, which occurred last week, has left many travelers in disarray, but Reed’s situation is particularly alarming as he struggles to reunite his kids.
The situation unfolds
On July 22, Reed shared his ordeal with a local news outlet, revealing that he spent over 20 hours trying to communicate with Delta to ensure his children’s safe return home. His eldest son is stuck in Charlotte, his daughter is at LaGuardia Airport in New York, and his youngest child is in Orlando. The children were visiting relatives ahead of a planned family trip to Disney World when the IT issues began.
Delta’s unaccompanied minor policy
Reed, who holds Million Miler status with Delta, expressed his frustration with the airline’s handling of the situation. He explained that Delta had implemented an embargo on their unaccompanied minors program, preventing any minors from flying alone during this period.
Delta’s response
In response, Delta issued a statement on their website indicating that unaccompanied minor travel would be paused until July 23. They advised against booking new travel for unaccompanied minors during this time. However, Reed remains skeptical about the airline’s commitment to the safety of children, describing the decision as a money-saving measure.
The broader impact of the IT outage
The global cyber outage, which was linked to a software update from cybersecurity firm Crowdstrike, caused widespread disruption. By Friday afternoon, over 4,000 flights had been canceled, and approximately 35,500 flights were delayed worldwide, affecting countless travelers.
As Reed continues to navigate this challenging situation, he emphasizes that Delta is responsible for the safe return of his children. His story highlights the broader issues faced by many travelers during this outage. While his children are not the only ones stranded, the hope remains for their swift and safe return home.