A major disruption hit flight operations at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) on Friday morning after a technical fault in the Air Traffic Control (ATC) system caused widespread delays. More than 100 flights were affected as authorities and technical teams worked to restore normalcy.
According to officials, the issue was linked to the Automatic Message Switching System (AMSS), which supports the transmission of vital air traffic data. With the system down, air traffic controllers were forced to process flight plans manually, resulting in slower clearances and cascading delays.
The Airports Authority of India (AAI) confirmed the glitch and said, “Controllers are processing flight plans manually, leading to some delays. Technical teams are working to restore the system at the earliest.” Passengers were advised to stay in touch with their respective airlines for real-time updates.
Airlines issue advisories amid long waits
National carrier Air India, along with budget airlines SpiceJet and IndiGo, issued advisories apologising for the delays and urging passengers to check flight statuses before heading to the airport. Air India said its cabin crew and ground staff were providing assistance to ease inconvenience.
“A technical issue with the ATC system in Delhi is impacting flight operations across all airlines, leading to delays and longer wait times. We regret the inconvenience caused by this unforeseen disruption,” Air India said.
SpiceJet and IndiGo reported that flights in Delhi and other northern regions were affected, though efforts were underway to resume normal operations. IndiGo acknowledged that extended wait times may frustrate passengers and thanked them for their patience.
ATC glitch follows recent GPS spoofing incidents
The disruption came close on the heels of another air traffic issue the previous evening, when a server outage delayed around 20 flights from Delhi. Though the system was restored, Friday’s glitch added to concerns about recurring operational hurdles at India’s busiest airport, which handles nearly 1,550 flights daily.
In recent weeks, Delhi airport also faced navigation disruptions due to suspected GPS spoofing incidents, which led to several flight diversions and congestion. GPS spoofing involves transmitting counterfeit satellite signals to mislead aircraft navigation systems, a phenomenon that has been increasingly observed even outside conflict zones.