What caused flight delays at Delhi airport? Over 100 flights hit, airlines issue advisory
The disruption was reported on Friday, November 7, after the auto-track system – responsible for generating flight plans – malfunctioned.
As many as 118 flights at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport faced delays following a computer glitch in the Air Traffic Control (ATC) system. The disruption was reported on Friday, November 7, after the Automatic Message Switching System that supports Air Traffic Control data malfunctioned. AMSS is responsible for feeding crucial flight plan data to auto track system.
In a statement, the Airports Authority of India (AAI) said flight operations “are experiencing delays due to a technical issue in the Automatic Message Switching System, which supports Air Traffic Control data.”
It did not, however, specify the nature of the malfunction that affected the Automatic Message Switching System.
“Controllers are processing flight plans manually, leading to some delays. Technical teams are working to restore the system at the earliest. We appreciate the understanding and cooperation of all passengers and stakeholders,” the AAI said.
The national capital's IGI airport, the country's busiest airport, handles more than 1,500 flight movements daily.
In a statement, the Delhi Airport said flight operations disrupted “due to an ongoing technical issue with the Automatic Message Switching System (AMSS) that supports Air Traffic Control flight planning process.”
“All airline operations at Delhi Airport are currently delayed. Concerned authorities are working on resolving the issue at the earliest,” it said.
As the tech glitch hit the ATC system, hundreds of passengers faced longer wait hours and a tough time at the Delhi airport. Long queues were seen near boarding gates and hundreds of passengers waited inside the airport terminals for flight updates.
As the tech issue was reported, Air India, IndiGo and SpiceJet huddled to issue advisories to their flyers, informing them about the delays.
Indigo said, “Due to an ongoing technical issue with the Automatic Message Switching System (AMSS) that supports Air Traffic Control data, flights across all airlines at #DelhiAirport and some other airports in the northern region are currently experiencing delays.”
“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,” Air India posted on X.