83-Year-Old Man Found Safe After Week-Long Disappearance Due to Flight Cancellation Linked to CrowdStrike Outage

Patrick A. Bailey, an 83-year-old man who had been missing for a week following a flight cancellation caused by the CrowdStrike outage, has been located and is reported to be in good health, according to the Orlando Police Department.

Flight Cancellation and Subsequent Disappearance

On July 21, Bailey had successfully checked in for his flight at Orlando International Airport, Florida. The flight was unexpectedly canceled due to “lingering results from the CrowdStrike outage,” which had led to widespread disruptions across various sectors, including airline services. Consequently, Bailey spent the night at a nearby hotel. However, he did not board a flight home the following morning as initially planned.

Communication Breakdown and Search Efforts

Patrick Bailey Jr., the son of the missing man, reported that his father was scheduled to return to California on July 21 after a visit to his sister in Florida. The cancellation of the flight left Bailey stranded. The situation was exacerbated by the fact that Bailey had left his cellphone at the hotel, which impeded communication with his family and intensified their concern for his safety.

Bailey Jr. voiced uncertainty about his father's actions following the flight cancellation, speculating that he might have pursued an alternative travel option, such as another airline. Despite these efforts, Bailey’s exact whereabouts remained unknown. “He could have possibly taken another airline,” Bailey Jr. told NBC affiliate WESH. “But he hasn’t shown up at home. We’ve had people check his house.”

Resolution and Discovery

After a prolonged period of uncertainty, the Orlando Police Department provided a crucial update on Sunday evening. Bailey was found in Sacramento, California, and was confirmed to be in “good health.” According to the police, after the cancellation of his flight, Bailey opted to travel home via Greyhound bus. It was during this journey that he realized he had left his cellphone behind in Orlando.

Official Statement

The police department communicated on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter): “After not being able to make his flight out of OIA [Orlando International Airport], he decided to take a Greyhound bus across the country and return home. Bailey was unaware he had left his phone at his hotel in Orlando until he was on the bus.”

Conclusion

The resolution of Patrick A. Bailey’s case underscores the series of unfortunate events triggered by the CrowdStrike outage, which affected both his travel plans and communication. Despite the challenges faced during his disappearance, the safe return of Bailey highlights the critical importance of vigilance and perseverance in missing persons cases.