Delhi Airport Chaos: Technical Glitch Halts Flights, Over 150 Delayed Across Northern India

A significant technical glitch in the Automatic Message Switching System (AMSS) of the Air Traffic Control (ATC) at Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) caused widespread flight disruptions. Over 150 flights across multiple airlines experienced delays at IGIA and several other airports in northern India. IGIA, one of India's busiest airports, handles over 1,500 flights daily. On Thursday alone, 513 flights were delayed according to Flightradar24, with 171 delayed since morning. The Airport Authority of India (AAI) stated that controllers are manually processing flight plans due to the AMSS issue, leading to the delays. They are working to restore the system urgently and appreciated passengers' understanding. Major airlines, including IndiGo, Air India, SpiceJet, and Akasa Air, issued statements to passengers, acknowledging the inconvenience and confirming the technical problem impacting operations in Delhi and northern regions. They assured that authorities are working on a fix and their staff are assisting travelers. The delays lead to passenger inconvenience, extended wait times, and potential financial losses for airlines due to operational inefficiencies and passenger compensation claims. Investor confidence in the aviation sector might be temporarily affected.

Impact: Rating: 6/10. This disruption highlights operational vulnerabilities and can impact airline profitability and investor sentiment in the short term.

Difficult Terms: Technical Snag: An unexpected problem or fault in a piece of equipment or system. Air Traffic Control (ATC): A service that controls aircraft movements in controlled airspace and on the ground to prevent collisions and ensure an orderly and expeditious flow of air traffic. Automatic Message Switching System (AMSS): A system used in Air Traffic Control to automatically send and receive messages between controllers, aircraft, and other aviation facilities, ensuring quick and reliable communication. Airport Authority of India (AAI): A statutory body responsible for establishing, maintaining, and managing civil aviation infrastructure in India.