Outlook Business Desk
New Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport faced a technical fault affecting the Air Traffic Control system on 7 November 2025, delaying over 800 flights across Indian airspace and causing disruption.
The airport experienced multiple GPS spoofing incidents over the past few days, according to a Times of India report, contributing significantly to flight operation disruptions.
GPS spoofing is a cyberattack that tricks receivers into showing false location data, compromising navigation accuracy and affecting aviation operations, a growing threat highlighted in recent reports in 2025.
According to cybersecurity software company McAfee, GPS spoofing has grown increasingly dangerous. With advanced hardware and software, attackers can send fake GPS signals, misleading devices with incorrect location data and navigation errors.
On Friday evening, the Airports Authority of India (AAI) confirmed that the technical fault at Delhi Airport was resolved. However, backlogs and eastern winds caused further delays, forcing some flights to land from Dwarka and take off from Vasant Kunj.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is also investigating recent GPS spoofing incidents at Delhi Airport, as cited by a government official. Over 800 flights faced delays due to the technical glitch affecting the Air Traffic Control systems.
In August 2025, the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Transport urged a quick upgrade of India’s Air Traffic Control systems, highlighting the need to improve efficiency and reduce risks at busy airports.
The committee also warned that India’s ageing ATC systems risk safety and operations at busy airports like Delhi and Mumbai. Upgrading technology promptly is essential to manage airspace and prevent disruptions.