Congresswoman Nikema Williams Seeks Answers in CrowdStrike Disruptions, FAA Response

WASHINGTON – Monday, Congresswoman Nikema Williams (GA-05), sent letters to Administrator Michael Whitaker of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Gregory Kurtz, CEO of CrowdStrike. Georgia’s Fifth Congressional District continues to experience the impacts of the Friday, July 19th CrowdStrike disruptions as home to Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, the world’s busiest airport. 

In Williams’ letter to Kurtz, she questioned CrowdStrike’s quality control process and what steps CrowdStrike took to understand the scope and remedy the issue. She also asked Kurtz how CrowdStrike will change its’ policies and procedures to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future. 

In Williams’ letter to Administrator Whitaker of the FAA, she noted the agency’s work to remedy the situation since early Friday. Among other questions, Williams asked what the agency is doing to ensure that airlines comply with their commitments to minimize passenger inconveniences stemming from canceled and delayed flights due to controllable circumstances. 

In both letters, Williams highlighted the impacts to constituents and travelers through Hartsfield-Jackson. The letters read: 

“Over just three days, Friday July 19th, Saturday, July 20th, and Sunday, July 21st, more than 5,500 flights at the airport were canceled or delayed. This led stranded travelers to sleep on chairs and in walkways throughout the airport as they desperately waited to be rebooked on a new flight. My constituents missed vacations, weddings, and other important occasions due to the flight cancellations and delays over the weekend.” 

Read the letter to CrowdStrike here. 

Read the letter to the Federal Aviation Administration here. 

Contact:
Amber English Coleman, amber.coleman@mail.house.gov 

Congresswoman Nikema Williams proudly serves Georgia’s Fifth Congressional District on the exclusive Financial Services Committee. She is a champion of voting rights and builds on the Fifth District’s legacy as the cradle of the civil rights movement. Congresswoman Williams is committed to closing the racial wealth gap and ensuring the promise of America for all–regardless of your ZIP code or bank account.

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