New Delhi: Flight operations at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) were severely disrupted on Friday after a major technical glitch hit the Air Traffic Control (ATC) system, leading to delays in over 100 flights across several airlines.
In an advisory posted on X (formerly Twitter), Delhi Airport confirmed the disruption, stating:
“Due to a technical issue with the Air Traffic Control (ATC) system, flight operations at IGIA are experiencing delays. The ATC team is actively working with all stakeholders, including DIAL, to resolve the issue at the earliest. Passengers are advised to stay in touch with their respective airlines for the latest flight updates. We sincerely regret the inconvenience caused.”
According to reports by IANS, passengers faced long waiting times both inside the terminal and onboard aircraft. National carrier Air India also issued a statement acknowledging the situation: “A technical issue with the ATC system in Delhi is impacting flight operations across all airlines, leading to delays and longer wait times at the airport and onboard aircraft. We regret the inconvenience caused by this unforeseen disruption, which is beyond our control, and appreciate your patience.”
Air India further urged passengers to check the latest flight updates on its website before heading to the airport. IndiGo, India’s largest airline, echoed similar concerns in its social media update: “Flight operations at #Delhi Airport are currently experiencing delays due to a technical issue with the Air Traffic Control (ATC) system. We understand the inconvenience and appreciate your patience while our crew and ground teams assist passengers.”
Earlier this week, Delhi Airport had also witnessed minor disruptions due to third-party connectivity issues affecting check-in systems. That issue was resolved by Wednesday. However, today’s ATC glitch is unrelated and has had a much wider impact.
#Delhi |A failure in the Automatic Message Switching System at Indira Gandhi International Airport disrupted flight operations starting around 3 a.m. on Friday, prompting air traffic controllers to switch to manual processing. This led to delays for over 200 flights and a backlog… pic.twitter.com/uITx3UPZfv
— Deccan Chronicle (@DeccanChronicle) November 7, 2025
Authorities have advised passengers to monitor their flight status closely and arrive at the airport well in advance of scheduled departures. Technical teams are currently working to restore full operational efficiency at IGIA.
