Chaos at Delhi Airport: Flight Operations Hit by Major ATC System Glitch, Situation Slowly Returning to Normal

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New Delhi:
For the past few days, chaos has prevailed at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) following a major technical failure in the Air Traffic Control (ATC) Flight Planning System. The glitch, which began on Wednesday and intensified through Thursday and Friday, disrupted hundreds of flights, leaving passengers stranded and operations in disarray.

According to the latest update issued by the Delhi Airport Authority on Saturday, the situation is now gradually improving. The airport management confirmed that the Automatic Message Switching System (AMSS) — the core automation network responsible for transmitting flight plan data to ATC controllers — had developed a severe malfunction, forcing controllers to revert to manual operations.

In a statement, the airport said:

“The technical issue in the Automatic Message Switching System (AMSS) is being resolved. Flight operations are progressively returning to normal. All concerned officials are working tirelessly to minimize passenger inconvenience. Travellers are advised to stay in touch with their respective airlines for the latest flight updates.”

The AMSS glitch had a cascading effect on flight schedules. With automation halted, controllers had to manually process each flight plan — a time-consuming process given Delhi’s heavy air traffic load. The airport handles nearly 1,500 flights daily, with 60–70 flight movements per hour during peak times. The sudden switch to manual procedures led to severe delays and congestion.

By Friday, as the issue persisted, airlines reported widespread delays in both arrivals and departures, with many passengers waiting for hours at terminals. Sources within the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) confirmed that additional technical teams had been deployed to restore the system and monitor air traffic safety.

While operations are now stabilizing, authorities continue to caution passengers to check flight statuses before heading to the airport. The incident has raised serious concerns about the resilience of India’s ATC infrastructure, particularly at the nation’s busiest airport.