On Thursday evening, a significant technical issue at Delhi Airport, India’s largest, led to delays for nearly 800 flights. The glitch originated from the Automatic Message Switching System (AMSS), impacting the Air Traffic Control (ATC) operations and disrupting numerous flight schedules. Officials described this situation as unprecedented, stating similar issues have not occurred before.
What Caused the Delays?
The AMSS, vital for processing and routing flight plan data, experienced a failure. This breakdown halted the automatic flow of essential information to ATC controllers, forcing them to manage flight plans manually. This process is time-consuming, especially with the high volume of flights at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport, which handles about 1,500 flight movements daily.
Initial Detection and Response
The problem was first identified on November 6, when ATC officers noted missing data. As soon as the issue became apparent, a review meeting convened with senior officials from the Ministry of Civil Aviation and the Airports Authority of India (AAI). Immediate corrective actions were discussed, including consulting the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) for assistance.
Impact on Flight Operations
- On Thursday alone, flight-tracking service Flightradar24 recorded 513 delayed flights.
- By the next day, this number rose to nearly 800 flights.
- Average delays ranged from 45 minutes to an hour.
This widespread disruption also affected airports beyond Delhi. For example, flights to and from Hyderabad were delayed as well, with at least 21 flights impacted by the reduced ATC efficiency.
Passenger Experience During the Outage
The manual handling of flight plans resulted in chaos at the airport. Thousands of passengers found themselves stranded, facing long wait times and continued delays. Reports of passengers being held onboard aircraft prior to take-off emerged on social media platforms. Airline staff offered refreshments and updates during this challenging situation.
Airline Responses to the Glitch
Major airlines including IndiGo, Air India, and SpiceJet were significantly affected. They promptly issued advisories to inform passengers of potential delays. Airlines began deploying extra staff to help manage the situation directly with ATC.
Airline Statements
- IndiGo: Notified passengers of ongoing delays and expressed gratitude for their patience amidst the technical challenges.
- Air India Express: Assured cooperation with authorities to minimize inconveniences, advising travelers to check their flight status online.
Environmental and Safety Considerations
Despite the chaos, AAI officials affirmed that the safety of in-flight aircraft remained uncompromised. The disruption solely affected pre-departure operations and flight planning mechanisms. Investigations suggest that a software malfunction in the AMSS caused the message routing failure.
As operations stabilize, officials anticipate that delays may persist due to existing backlogs, but functionality will soon return to normal. The AAI expressed regret for the inconvenience caused to airlines and passengers during this critical period.
