Delhi Airport Chaos: 300+ Flights Delayed After System Failure

Delhi Airport Chaos: 300+ Flights Delayed After System Failure

Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport faced severe disruption Friday as an Automatic Message Switching System (AMSS) glitch caused over 300 flight delays. Air traffic controllers were forced to revert to manual procedures, drastically slowing operations and creating mounting backlogs at India’s busiest aviation hub.

What Failed: Critical System Breakdown

The crisis began when the Automatic Message Switching System (AMSS)—responsible for transmitting flight plan data to controller screens—crashed. This forced air traffic controllers to process all information manually, severely delaying arrivals and departures.

• System Impact: AMSS handles high-volume flight plans, weather updates, and operational notices
• Manual Fallback: Controllers resorted to hand-written logs and voice coordination
• Timeline: Issues began Wednesday evening; major disruption started Thursday 3 PM

Scale of Disruption

IGIA typically manages 1,500 daily aircraft movements at peak rates of 60-70 per hour. The automation failure left virtually no operational buffer, causing:

• 300+ flights delayed (Friday)
• 100+ operations affected (per PTI)
• Average delays: ~50 minutes for departures
• Network effect: Mumbai airport also reported impacts

Official Response & Restoration

Airport Authority of India Statement:

“Flight operations at Delhi Airport are experiencing delays due to a technical issue in the Automatic Message Switching System (AMSS), which supports Air Traffic Control data. Controllers are processing flight plans manually, leading to some delays. Technical teams are working to restore the system at the earliest.”

Delhi Airport added: “We regret the disruption at IGIA due to a technical issue at ATC. This matter is being addressed on priority with close coordination among ATC, DIAL, and stakeholders. Passengers should follow airline updates.”

Airline Advisories to Passengers

Multiple airlines issued urgent guidance:

• IndiGo: “Check flight status before starting your journey and arrive earlier than usual.”
• SpiceJet: “Ground teams are assisting passengers. Keep checking flight status.”
• Air India: “Cabin crew and ground staff are extending immediate assistance. Check flight status before heading to the airport.”
• Akasa Air: “This may lead to longer wait times. While beyond our control, we sincerely regret the inconvenience.”
• Air India Express: “Our teams are doing their best to assist. Please check your flight status.”

Current Status

Technical teams are working round-the-clock to restore the AMSS system. While manual operations continue to ensure safety, passengers should expect significant delays and must verify flight status directly with airlines before traveling to the airport.

Sources: Flightradar24, PTI, official airline communications

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