Major Technical Glitch Paralyzes Delhi Airport Operations
New Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport experienced a severe technical crisis on Friday, November 7, 2025, when a sophisticated GPS spoofing attack crippled air traffic control systems, leading to massive flight disruptions across Indian airspace. The incident affected more than 800 flight operations, creating cascading delays and congestion that impacted travelers nationwide.
Understanding the GPS Spoofing Threat
According to cybersecurity experts at McAfee, GPS spoofing represents a dangerous form of cyberattack where malicious actors broadcast false GPS signals to manipulate receivers. This sophisticated technique tricks navigation systems into displaying inaccurate location data, potentially showing aircraft in locations where they don't actually exist.
This form of cyberattack undermines the fundamental reliability of GPS data, which has become essential for numerous applications ranging from navigation to time synchronization in aviation systems. The practice has evolved into a significant security threat in recent years due to the increasing availability of hardware and software capable of generating convincing fake GPS signals.
Delhi Airport's Friday Night Crisis
The situation at Delhi Airport deteriorated throughout Friday evening, with the Airports Authority of India (AAI) eventually confirming that the technical issues had been resolved. However, the damage was already done, and authorities warned passengers about continued delays as they worked through the substantial backlog of affected flights.
Compounding the technical problems, adverse eastern winds forced several aircraft to alter their runway approaches. Multiple flights had to land from the Dwarka side while taking off from the Vasant Kunj side, creating additional air traffic congestion in the Delhi airspace.
Reports from The Hindu indicated that airlines operating through Delhi had been experiencing severe GPS spoofing incidents throughout the previous week. These attacks resulted in false navigation data transmissions, including inaccurate aircraft positioning and misleading terrain warnings that posed significant safety concerns.
Regulatory Response and Systemic Concerns
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), India's aviation regulator, has launched a comprehensive investigation into the spoofing incidents. This probe aims to determine the source of the attacks and identify measures to prevent similar occurrences in the future.
This incident highlights growing concerns about India's aviation infrastructure. In August 2025, the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Transport had already called for a time-bound overhaul of India's Air Traffic Control automation systems. The committee specifically warned that outdated technology poses serious operational and safety challenges, particularly at high-density airports like Delhi and Mumbai.
The News18 report from Saturday, November 8, 2025, emphasized that these warnings have now manifested in real-world disruptions, underscoring the urgent need for technological upgrades in India's aviation sector.
Key Takeaways for Indian Aviation
The Delhi airport incident serves as a wake-up call for the entire aviation industry. GPS spoofing has emerged as a genuine threat that can cause widespread disruption to air travel. The vulnerability of outdated Air Traffic Control systems presents significant safety concerns that require immediate attention.
Aviation experts stress that immediate reforms in technology and operational practices are essential to mitigate risks associated with GPS spoofing and other cybersecurity threats. As India continues to grow as an aviation market, ensuring the security and reliability of navigation systems must become a top priority for regulators and airport authorities alike.
