Chaos erupted at Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport on Wednesday as a major technical failure in the air traffic control systems triggered massive flight disruptions across the country's busiest aviation hub.
Widespread Flight Disruptions
Over 100 flights experienced significant delays as the technical snag brought operations to a near-standstill during peak hours. The cascading effect of the ATC system failure created long queues at terminals and left thousands of passengers frustrated and stranded.
Airlines Scramble to Respond
Major Indian carriers including IndiGo, Air India, SpiceJet, and Akasa Air immediately issued travel advisories, urging passengers to check their flight status before heading to the airport. Airlines were forced to hold departing aircraft while incoming flights faced holding patterns or diversions.
Passenger Nightmare Unfolds
Travelers took to social media to express their frustration as departure boards flashed endless delays. Many passengers reported being stuck on aircraft for hours while others faced uncertainty about their connecting flights and important appointments.
Technical Troubles Deepen
The technical issues reportedly affected multiple systems within the ATC infrastructure, making it challenging for controllers to manage the high volume of air traffic that typically passes through Delhi Airport. This marks one of the most significant technical failures at the airport in recent months.
Industry Impact
The disruption comes at a time when Indian aviation was showing strong recovery post-pandemic. Such technical glitches raise serious concerns about the resilience of critical aviation infrastructure and its ability to handle growing passenger traffic.
As technicians work to resolve the issues, aviation authorities face mounting pressure to ensure such widespread disruptions don't become a recurring problem at one of the world's fastest-growing aviation markets.
