Delhi, Mumbai, Lucknow, Jaipur...: Indian airports hit by technical glitches, flight operations disrupted

The Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport in Mumbai on Friday (7 November 2025) issued an advisory warning passengers of potential flight delays following a major technical glitch in Delhi’s Automatic Message Switching System (AMSS) that disrupted air traffic operations nationwide.

The impact of the system failure in Delhi has cascaded across several airports, including Mumbai, Jaipur, Lucknow and Varanasi, as outgoing flights from the capital face significant delays, according to the Airports Authority of India (AAI).

The AMSS glitch crippled the network supporting Air Traffic Control (ATC) and flight planning, leading to widespread disruption at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport — delaying over 300 domestic and international flights.

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Mumbai airport issues passenger advisory

“Flight operations at Mumbai Airport have been affected by a technical issue impacting the AMSS at Delhi, which supports Air Traffic Control flight planning. The concerned authorities are actively working to resolve the issue at the earliest,” Mumbai Airport said in a statement.

“As a result, airline operations may experience delays. Passengers are advised to contact their respective airlines for updates on flight status and revised schedules. We regret the inconvenience caused and appreciate your patience and cooperation,” it added.

Controllers switch to manual operations

The AAI confirmed that flight controllers in Delhi were processing flight plans manually after the system malfunctioned. “Technical teams are working to restore the system at the earliest,” it said.

Sources told CNN-News18 that the issue may be linked to a possible malware-induced overload in the automation software, though investigations are ongoing. Major carriers including IndiGo, Air India, Air India Express, SpiceJet and Akasa Air have all reported delays in their operations.

Chaos at Delhi’s IGI Airport

A chaotic morning unfolded at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport as the glitch led to more than 300 flight delays. Airport authorities said efforts were underway to resolve the issue and apologised for the disruption.

“Due to a technical issue with the Air Traffic Control system, flight operations at IGIA are experiencing delays. The ATC team is actively working with all stakeholders, including Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL), to resolve it at the earliest,” read a passenger advisory issued by the airport.

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Passengers were urged to stay in touch with their airlines for the latest updates.

Airlines apologise, urge patience

Air India said the glitch had caused “longer wait times at the airport and onboard aircraft,” adding that its staff were “extending all possible assistance” to passengers. “We regret the inconvenience caused by this unforeseen disruption, which is beyond our control, and appreciate your patience,” the airline stated.

IndiGo and SpiceJet also confirmed widespread delays, especially across Delhi and northern India. “We understand that extended wait times, both on the ground and onboard, may cause inconvenience, and we sincerely appreciate your patience,” IndiGo said.

Previous disruption and wider concerns

Sources told News18 that a similar server outage in the ATC system on Thursday evening had delayed around 20 flights, though the issue was later resolved.

The IGI Airport — India’s busiest — handles around 1,550 flight movements daily. This latest disruption comes amid growing concerns over aviation safety, following recent reports of suspected GPS spoofing incidents that interfered with aircraft navigation systems and forced several diversions.

GPS spoofing occurs when counterfeit satellite signals mislead aircraft by feeding false location or altitude data — a growing global concern once largely confined to conflict zones. Last month, a Delhi-bound flight from Vienna was diverted to Dubai after encountering spoofed GPS signals.