Delhi Airport Recovers from Major Glitch as Minister Probes Air Traffic Breakdown

A technical failure in the air traffic management system at Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi caused widespread chaos over the weekend, delaying hundreds of flights and prompting a high-level intervention by Union Civil Aviation Minister Rammohan Naidu. In a hands-on assessment, Naidu toured the airport’s Air Traffic Control Tower on Saturday, urging a thorough investigation into the incident’s origins to safeguard against future outages.

The disruption, which originated in the afternoon of November 6, crippled automated messaging protocols essential for coordinating flights nationwide. It persisted until Saturday afternoon, when full functionality was restored. In total, the malfunction resulted in over 600 delays and the cancellation of 46 flights, underscoring vulnerabilities at India’s premier aviation gateway.

By Saturday, operations were inching back to routine, though travelers endured residual setbacks. Data from Flightradar24 indicated that outbound flights averaged more than 30 minutes of holdups throughout the day.

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Naidu, flanked by Civil Aviation Secretary Samir Kumar Sinha and Airports Authority of India Chairman Vipin Kumar, called for immediate enhancements to the infrastructure. He emphasized the adoption of advanced technologies and backup protocols, including auxiliary servers, to bolster resilience in air traffic systems.

The minister commended the round-the-clock dedication of engineering teams and control personnel, who improvised manual procedures to prioritize safety and curb passenger hardships. The affected messaging network, overseen by the Airports Authority of India’s Air Navigation Services and backed by the Electronics Corporation of India Limited, relied on these human-led tactics during the crisis.

Building on his inspection of the Delhi Air Navigation Services Centre the previous night, Naidu had already mobilized extra technicians from ECIL and additional controllers from the Airports Authority of India to sustain manual oversight. Officials confirmed that the setup reverted to automated operations by midday Saturday, averting any further cancellations that day.

As the nation’s aviation hub regains its rhythm, the episode highlights the critical need for robust safeguards in an increasingly congested airspace. Authorities remain vigilant, ensuring smooth skies ahead.