Chaos At IGI: Over 100 Flights Delayed After ATC Software Glitch, Passengers Stranded, Airlines Issue Advisories

What began as a routine pre-dawn shuffle at Indira Gandhi International Airport turned fractious on Friday when a software failure in the air-traffic control (ATC) messaging system slowed flight clearances, leaving travellers waiting at gates and more than a hundred services running late.

New Delhi’s busiest airport is used to packed aprons and tight turnarounds, but the disruption today was different because it came from behind the screens. Officials say the Automatic Message Switching System (AMSS), which feeds flight-plan and routing data into the ATC network, went temporarily unserviceable; controllers reverted to manual processes to prepare and clear flight plans, a far slower routine that created queues on the ground and in the skies.

Passengers woke to delayed boarding calls and long waits at information counters as airlines began issuing travel advisories. IndiGo, Air India and SpiceJet, among others, operating large schedules through Delhi, told customers to check live flight status before heading to the airport and warned of knock-on delays across northern sectors. Social-media advisories from carriers and the airport urged patience as technical teams worked on a fix.

Manual Work, Cascading Knock-on Effects

When key data stops flowing automatically, even a well-staffed tower feels the strain. Flight-tracking snapshots showed average departure delays climbing into the tens of minutes (some analytics services put the average around 50–60 minutes during the worst hours), while a handful of long-haul services, including intercontinental flights, were pushed back by an hour or more as ground slots and arrival sequencing were reworked. Landings continued, but take-offs were throttled to reduce conflict and risk.

Airlines and airport operators described the scene as controlled but congested: aircraft held at gates waiting for clearance, incoming flights stacked on holding patterns further afield, and ground-service teams juggling late turnarounds. Several news reports captured tense moments at boarding gates and passengers missing connections — the human toll of an otherwise technical failure.

Who’s Fixing It And What Travellers Should Do

The Airports Authority of India (AAI) and Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL) said technical teams were on site and coordinating with airline operations to restore normal flow as quickly as possible. Authorities stopped short of giving a firm timeline but emphasised that safety procedures remained unchanged and that controllers were following manual checks to ensure flights departed with full situational awareness.

For travellers: check your airline’s live status page or official social channels before leaving for the airport; expect longer wait times at check-in and security; and contact your carrier if a missed connection threatens onward travel. Airlines have been advising passengers whose flights were delayed to stay at the airport or reschedule through official channels rather than rely on third-party updates.

(With inputs from various sources.)

FAQs

1. Why are flights delayed at Delhi airport today?
A major software glitch in the ATC’s Automatic Message Switching System caused manual processing of flight plans, leading to over 100 flight delays.

2. How long will Delhi airport flight delays last?
Authorities haven’t given an exact timeline, but normal operations are expected to resume once the ATC system is fully restored and backlogs are cleared.

3. Which airlines were affected by the Delhi ATC glitch?
Air India, IndiGo, and SpiceJet were among the airlines most affected, issuing travel advisories and urging passengers to check live flight statuses.

4. What should passengers do if their flight is delayed?
Check your airline’s official website or social media for updates, stay at the airport if already checked in, and avoid relying on third-party tracking apps.

5. Is it safe to fly during an ATC technical glitch?
Yes. Despite delays, safety remains unaffected. Air traffic controllers follow manual protocols and safety checks to ensure secure flight operations.