Technical Glitch in AMSS System Triggers Flight Chaos at Delhi and Mumbai Airports; Over 300 Flights Delayed

A massive disruption hit flight operations across Delhi and Mumbai airports after a technical failure crippled the Automatic Message Switching System (AMSS), which manages crucial air traffic data exchanges. The glitch triggered over 300 flight delays and left thousands of passengers stranded at terminals through Thursday and Friday.

The Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) in Delhi, India’s busiest aviation hub, saw chaos unfold as air traffic controllers were forced to switch to manual flight processing, drastically reducing efficiency. The cascading effects were soon felt at Mumbai Airport, which also reported delays and issued advisories for passengers.

⚙️ What Went Wrong: AMSS Breakdown

The glitch originated in the AMSS — Automatic Message Switching System, a backbone tool that transmits real-time flight plan data to air traffic controllers. Once the system crashed, controllers had to manually log flight information, calculate separation distances, and coordinate via radio, slowing the usual pace of air traffic handling.

According to reports, the issue began showing signs on Wednesday evening, intensified by Thursday 3 PM, and had network-wide effects across Indian airspace by Friday morning.

✈️ Scale of Disruption

Authorities confirmed that more than 300 flights were impacted nationwide — primarily in Delhi and Mumbai. Delhi Airport, which typically handles 1,500 aircraft movements a day, was especially affected as controllers managed flight sequencing manually.

Average delays stretched between 40 to 60 minutes, as seen on Flightradar24, with passengers reporting long queues at check-in counters and security gates.

🛠️ Restoration Efforts Underway

The Airports Authority of India (AAI) confirmed the issue in a post on X (formerly Twitter):

“Flight operations at Delhi Airport are experiencing delays due to a technical issue in the AMSS system supporting ATC data. Controllers are processing flight plans manually. Technical teams are working to restore the system at the earliest.”

Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL) also shared updates, apologizing for the inconvenience and urging passengers to stay in touch with airlines for revised schedules. “We regret the disruption being experienced at IGIA due to a technical issue at ATC. This matter is being addressed on priority,” the statement said.

🛫 Airlines Issue Passenger Advisories

Several airlines including IndiGo, SpiceJet, Air India, Akasa Air, and Air India Express issued advisories to help passengers manage their travel plans.

• IndiGo advised customers to check flight status before leaving for the airport and to arrive early.
• SpiceJet deployed additional ground staff to assist passengers and coordinate with authorities.
• Air India and Air India Express both urged flyers to monitor real-time updates and assured that their crew was assisting passengers on ground.
• Akasa Air expressed regret over “longer-than-usual wait times” and assured it was working closely with officials to minimize disruptions.

🕒 Current Status

As of Friday evening, operations had partially resumed but manual handling continued for several routes. Technical teams from AAI and aviation software providers are working around the clock to stabilize the system and restore full automation.

With Delhi and Mumbai airports together handling nearly 2,000 daily flight movements, even a brief system failure had massive ripple effects across the country’s aviation network.