The issue gained attention following the November 7 disruption at Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGI) in Delhi, where a technical fault in the Air Traffic Control’s Automatic Message Switching System (AMSS) delayed over 800 flights and forced the cancellation of 20. Thousands of passengers faced long queues and confusion as operations were restored only after 12 hours.
GPS provides aircraft with precise location, altitude, and directional data essential for safe navigation. When disrupted, flights risk deviating from planned routes, potentially endangering passengers and crew. Recent reports of spoofing and signal interference have affected major airports including Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Amritsar, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, and Chennai.
Mohol stated that the Wireless Monitoring Organisation is actively investigating the matter, while the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) issued new Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for real-time reporting of GPS tampering. Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu highlighted the rising threat of cyberattacks worldwide and said the Airports Authority of India (AAI) is upgrading its cybersecurity systems to protect critical aviation infrastructure.
During the November 7 disruption, air traffic controllers reverted to manual operations to manage flight plans, slowing schedules and prompting airlines, including IndiGo, Air India, Air India Express, SpiceJet, and Akasa, to constantly update passengers on revised timings.
Authorities continue to monitor the situation, urging travellers to stay in touch with airlines while enhancements to the AMSS system and broader aviation cybersecurity measures are implemented. The government has committed to strengthening safeguards to prevent future GPS interference and ensure uninterrupted flight operations.
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