Air Traffic Control / IGI Airport ATC Glitch: Over 40 Hours of Delays, Situation Gradually Normalizing

Air travel at Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) has been severely impacted for over 40 hours due to a technical malfunction in the Air Traffic Control (ATC) system. The issue, which began on Thursday afternoon, led to significant disruptions and delays for hundreds of flights at India's busiest airport. While the situation is now slowly returning to normal, passengers are still being advised to. Remain in contact with their respective airlines for the latest updates on their flight status.

Cause and Impact of the Technical Glitch

The technical snag originated in the Automated Message Switching System (AMSS), a critical component that facilitates the smooth operation of air traffic control. With the AMSS not functioning correctly, vital information regarding air traffic, such as call signs, flight routes, departure, and destination details, had to be communicated manually to pilots via radio telephony. This manual process inherently slowed down operations, leading to substantial delays in both take-offs and landings, while delhi Airport typically handles an average of 63 flight movements (landings and take-offs) per hour, amounting to approximately 1500 movements daily. Given this high volume, even a minor technical issue can trigger widespread disruptions.

Significant Inconvenience for Passengers

According to data from flight tracking website Flight Radar 24, between 5 AM and 8 PM on Thursday, over 383 departures and 163 arrivals at Indira Gandhi International Airport experienced delays exceeding 45 minutes. In total, around 500 flights were affected by this technical fault. Passengers faced prolonged waiting times at the airport, causing considerable disruption to their travel plans, while many travelers expressed concerns about missing connecting flights, while others were delayed in reaching important meetings or events. The situation created a chaotic atmosphere at the airport, with passengers constantly seeking information about their flight statuses.

Challenges of Manual Operations

Following the AMSS breakdown, air traffic controllers were compelled to operate manually, a process that's both complex and time-consuming. Providing essential information to pilots, such as flight routes and destinations,. Via radio telephony is Notably slower compared to an automated system. This manual intervention not only caused flight delays but also placed additional pressure on air traffic controllers, who had to work with extreme caution and precision, while the system had been sluggish for the past two days, causing delays for at least 23 flights, which further exacerbated the impact of low visibility due to fog in the city. The pre-existing issue of reduced visibility due to fog was compounded by the ATC malfunction, making the situation even more critical.

Efforts Towards Normalization

Airport authorities, operated by Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL), have stated that the technical problems affecting the Automated Message Switching System (AMSS) are gradually improving. All concerned officials are diligently working to minimize any inconvenience and restore normal operations. The Ministry of Civil Aviation had announced on Friday evening that the system glitch had been rectified. However, due to a significant backlog of flights, a complete return to normal operations is expected to take some more time. Passengers have been urged to exercise patience and maintain continuous contact with their airlines.

The Road Ahead and Future Challenges

This incident has highlighted the need for a review of the reliability. Of technical systems and their backup mechanisms at the nation's busiest airport. Airline operations at Delhi Airport are slowly returning to normal, and officials are working tirelessly to ensure minimal inconvenience to passengers. To prevent similar occurrences in the future, special attention will. Be crucial for the maintenance and upgrading of technical systems. Ensuring adequate redundancy in critical systems can help manage such. Situations and guarantee a smooth and safe travel experience for passengers.

Update on Technical Fault at IGI Airport, New Delhi

NEW DELHI, November 7, 2025 - AAI at Indira Gandhi International Airport addressed a technical issue in the Automatic Message Switching System (AMSS), which caused delays in processing flight plan messages. The issue was…

— Airports Authority of India (@AAI_Official) November 7, 2025