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.

The first phase of Bihar’s high-stakes assembly elections began on Thursday, covering 121 of the state’s 243 constituencies. By 5 pm, voter turnout had climbed to 60.13% across the 121 constituencies, as citizens voted at polling stations across the state. The turnout as of now is almost 5% above the turnout in the 2020 Assembly poll.

Top political figures including Lalu Prasad Yadav, Tejashwi Yadav, Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary, and Lok Janshakti Party leader Chirag Paswan were among the early voters. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar also cast his vote in the afternoon, joining other top leaders in urging high turnout.

Sharing a family photo with inked fingers, Lalu Yadav urged people to vote for change, writing that “20 years is too long” and calling for a “youth-led government” under Tejashwi Yadav.

Deputy CM Choudhary expressed confidence that the NDA would return to power with a “thumping majority,” while Chirag Paswan appealed for record voter participation.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi too urged voters to celebrate the “festival of democracy” with enthusiasm, expressing confidence that the NDA would secure a strong mandate.

Key battles and campaign highlights

The Opposition Grand Alliance, led by Rashtriya Janata Dal’s Tejashwi Yadav, is banking heavily on anti-incumbency and his flagship promise of “one government job per household,” aimed at addressing Bihar’s chronic unemployment and migration issues.

The BJP, meanwhile, ran an aggressive campaign led by PM Modi and senior party leaders. Despite speculation about Nitish Kumar’s political future, party leaders including Amit Shah and JP Nadda reaffirmed the JD(U) chief’s position in the alliance.

The Congress, though part of the Grand Alliance, was criticized for its lacklustre campaign. While Rahul Gandhi initially joined Tejashwi Yadav for a joint foot march, his absence from the campaign trail in recent weeks drew attention.

Election strategist Prashant Kishor, contesting independently through his Jan Suraaj Party, has emerged as a potential wildcard. His decision to contest all seats without alliances could split the non-BJP vote. Kishor has claimed his party will either win “less than 10 or more than 150 seats.”

Issues shaping the election

The Bihar polls this year revolve around core livelihood concerns — unemployment, corruption, migration, education, and healthcare. Tejashwi Yadav’s 1.3 crore jobs promise has sparked debate, with the NDA dismissing it as financially unsustainable.

The ruling alliance has countered with its own promises of creating 1 crore jobs and empowering women, pledging to make 1 crore women lakhpatis through welfare initiatives.

In the 2020 assembly election, the Grand Alliance had dominated in the same belt, winning 63 of the 121 seats now polling. The NDA had secured 55 seats jointly between the BJP and JD(U).

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, addressing election rallies in Bhagalpur and Araria on Thursday, launched a sharp attack on the RJD-Congress alliance in Bihar, accusing them of having a “soft corner for infiltrators” and “dislike for Lord Ram and Chhathi Maiya” due to vote bank politics.

PM Modi said that while the NDA government has worked tirelessly under Chief Minister Nitish Kumar to transform Bihar, the opposition has remained focused on appeasement. “Bihar saw zero development during the 15 years of jungle raj. No highways, bridges, or higher education institutions were built,” he said, adding that the NDA’s governance has brought expressways, bridges, and four central universities to the state.

The Prime Minister stressed that the biggest challenge before the NDA is the menace of infiltration. “The NDA is committed to driving out every infiltrator from the country, but Congress and RJD protect them and mislead people for votes,” he alleged, indirectly referring to opposition leader Rahul Gandhi’s recent political yatra.

PM Modi also took aim at the opposition’s alleged disregard for tradition and faith. “The naamdaar of Congress called devotion to Chhathi Maiya a drama. They don’t even visit Ayodhya to have darshan of Lord Ram,” he said, adding that their refusal to visit shrines of Nishad Raj, Mata Shabri, and Maharshi Valmiki reflects their “hatred for Dalits and backward classes.”

As the first phase of polling took place in 121 constituencies, Modi praised voters’ enthusiasm, especially women’s strong turnout. “Our mothers and sisters have created a fortress at polling booths to stop the return of jungle raj,” he said.

Reiterating that RJD’s rule was marked by “katta, kroorta, katuta, kushasan, and corruption,” PM Modi accused the alliance of fostering social divisions and cited Congress’s role in the Bhagalpur riots of 1989. “RJD was responsible for caste violence, and Congress for communal riots,” he said.

Taking a swipe at both parties, he claimed the RJD and Congress were run by “the most corrupt families of Bihar and the country.” Modi also alleged internal conflict within the INDI Alliance, saying, “After elections, they’ll fight among themselves. The RJD put a katta at the Congress’s head to name its leader as CM candidate.”