A major disruption hit Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) in Delhi on Friday morning, as a mechanical failure in the Air Traffic Control (ATC) system caused widespread chaos. Over a hundred flights were delayed, leaving passengers stranded and facing significant inconvenience.
Airport authorities confirmed that the disruption was caused by a malfunction in the Automatic Message Switching System (AMSS), which plays a crucial role in coordinating flight operations. As a result, air traffic controllers were forced to manage flights manually, slowing down the overall process and leading to prolonged delays.
In an advisory, Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL) stated that their technical team is working at full capacity to resolve the issue as quickly as possible. Passengers were advised to stay in contact with their respective airlines for the latest flight updates.
Air India, in a travel advisory, confirmed that the mechanical fault affected flights across all airlines. Passengers were reportedly waiting for extended periods both at the airport and inside aircraft. Airline staff, including cabin crew and ground personnel, were providing immediate assistance to those affected.
Budget carriers SpiceJet and IndiGo also reported delays for multiple flights in Delhi and across northern India. Both airlines said their technical and ground teams are coordinating closely with airport authorities to restore normal operations as soon as possible.
Sources indicated that a similar server malfunction had caused delays for at least 20 flights on Thursday evening. Although the issue was temporarily resolved, it resurfaced on Friday morning, exacerbating the disruption.
Indira Gandhi International Airport, which handles approximately 1,550 flights daily, is one of the busiest airports in India. Such technical failures not only inconvenience passengers but also highlight the critical importance of robust and resilient air traffic management systems.
