Hundreds of flights at Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGI) were delayed on Thursday following a technical failure in the airport’s Automatic Message Switching System (AMSS), which provides critical data for air-traffic control.
The system malfunction forced controllers to switch to manual processing, slowing flight operations. Reports said over 100 flights were delayed, with some estimates putting the number at around 300, affecting flights across Delhi and northern airports.
Major airlines, including IndiGo, Air India, SpiceJet and Akasa Air, issued advisories asking passengers to check their flight status. IndiGo tweeted that flights “across all airlines at Delhi Airport and a few northern airports are currently experiencing delays.” Air India confirmed the issue and apologised for the inconvenience.
Passengers were advised to arrive early, check flight status using airline apps or websites, and contact airlines for connecting flights. While no blanket refund has been announced, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) allows passengers to claim refunds or alternate flights if delays exceed two hours, subject to airline policies.
The AMSS automates sharing of flight plan data for air traffic control. Experts said its failure in a busy airport like Delhi can quickly lead to widespread delays, impacting thousands of passengers.
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