Over 100 flights delayed at Delhi airport due to technical glitch; Here's what happened

More than 100 flights were delayed at the Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) in the national capital on Friday morning following a technical glitch in the air traffic control (ATC) system, PTI reported, citing people familiar with the matter.

In a statement, the Delhi International Airport Ltd (DIAL) said flight operations were being affected due to a technical issue with the ATC system and that efforts were underway to restore normal functioning.

“Due to a technical issue with the Air Traffic Control (ATC) system, flight operations at IGIA are experiencing delays. Their team is actively working with all stakeholders including DIAL to resolve it at the earliest. Passengers are advised to stay in touch with their respective airlines for the latest flight updates. We sincerely regret the inconvenience caused,” DIAL said in a passenger advisory.

What caused the disruption?

The disruption, which began on Thursday evening, has affected the Automatic Message Switching System (AMSS), a critical component that provides flight plan information to the Auto Track System (ATS).

With the system not providing flight plans automatically, air traffic controllers have to prepare the plans manually using available data, which is a time-consuming process.

As a result, many flights are getting delayed.

The issues are also causing air traffic congestion at the airport and authorities are working to fix the problems.

Air India also issued a travel advisory on social media platform X, saying: “A technical issue with the ATC system in Delhi is impacting flight operations across all airlines, leading to delays and longer wait times at the airport and onboard aircraft. We regret the inconvenience caused by this unforeseen disruption, which is beyond our control, and appreciate your patience. Our cabin crew and on-ground staff at the airport are extending immediate assistance to reduce passenger inconvenience.”

The IGIA, India’s busiest airport, handles over 1,500 flight movements every day.

Data available on flight tracking website Flightradar24.com showed that flight departures from Delhi were delayed by an average of around 50 minutes on Friday morning.