A major technical glitch in the air traffic management system caused widespread disruption at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport and Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, leading to over 400 flight delays and several cancellations earlier today.
According to sources in the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), the problem originated in the flight data processing system that manages real-time aircraft movement and scheduling. The glitch reportedly caused a breakdown in coordination between air traffic control (ATC) and airlines, affecting both domestic and international flights during peak morning hours.
WHAT’s HAPPEN
Around 7:30 AM, technical teams detected irregularities in the system that manages departure and arrival slots. As a precautionary measure, the DGCA instructed airports to slow down flight clearances, which led to long queues on runways and crowded terminals.
By noon, the issue had affected:
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250+ flights at Delhi Airport
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170+ flights at Mumbai Airport
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Dozens of connecting flights at Chennai, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad
Airlines such as IndiGo, Air India, Vistara, and SpiceJet confirmed delays ranging from 30 minutes to over 3 hours, while some international carriers temporarily held flights at origin airports.
Authorities said the Airports Authority of India (AAI) and airport IT teams worked jointly to restore systems by afternoon. Backup servers were activated to resume normal operations.
“The issue was identified as a temporary system synchronization failure. Services are now gradually returning to normal,” said a senior DGCA official.
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😓 Passenger Frustration Grows
Social media platforms like X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram were flooded with complaints from stranded passengers sharing videos of crowded terminals, long check-in lines, and missed connections. Many travelers urged airlines to improve communication during such disruptions.
“No information, no updates — just chaos,” said Priya Nair, a passenger at Mumbai Airport waiting for her flight to Bengaluru for over two hours.
🧭 What’s Next
The DGCA has ordered a technical review of the incident to prevent future disruptions. Aviation analysts say this highlights the urgent need for system modernization and improved digital infrastructure in India’s busiest airports.
Despite the chaos, officials confirmed that no safety incidents were reported and all aircraft in the air were safely guided during the disruption.
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The Cause: The disruption is due to a technical failure in the Automatic Message Switching System (AMSS), which supports the ATC’s flight planning process. The glitch prevents automated processing of flight plans, forcing controllers to work manually, which is a time-consuming process
Official Advice: Passengers are strongly advised to check with their respective airlines for the latest updates on their flight status before heading to the airport