New Delhi: A technical glitch in the air traffic control system at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) caused widespread flight delays on Thursday evening, disrupting one of the country’s busiest travel hubs.
According to officials, the problem began with a malfunction in the Aeronautical Message Switching System (AMSS), a vital component used by controllers to handle flight plans and operational data. The failure forced air traffic controllers to switch to manual operations, slowing down the processing of flights and causing significant delays.
Airport sources said more than 100 flights were affected, with delays ranging from 30 to 50 minutes. Both domestic and international passengers were advised to check their flight status before heading to the airport. Several airlines also issued travel advisories, asking passengers to arrive early and stay updated through official channels.
Technical teams from the Airports Authority of India (AAI) and the Delhi airport operator immediately began working to restore normal operations.
By Friday morning, some improvement was reported, though residual delays continued to affect several flights.
The incident, while not posing any direct safety threat, has highlighted the growing pressure on India’s air traffic systems. The AMSS system, which automates the exchange of critical aeronautical messages, plays a central role in managing the heavy air traffic at Delhi airport. Experts say such technical issues underline the need for stronger backup systems and upgraded infrastructure to prevent disruptions.
Passengers at the airport described long queues and congested terminals as airlines scrambled to manage delayed schedules. “The staff kept announcing updates, but many of us waited for over an hour,” said a traveler heading to Bengaluru.
The AAI is expected to issue a detailed statement explaining the cause of the malfunction and the measures being taken to avoid a repeat of the issue.
Delhi airport, which handles more than 1,200 flights daily, remains a key hub for both domestic and international routes, and any technical failure can ripple through the entire aviation network.
Authorities said they are reviewing the incident to ensure that systems are stabilized and to strengthen operational resilience in the future.