Flight operations at Delhi&rsquo;s Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) were severely disrupted on Friday morning after a technical glitch in the Air Traffic Control (ATC) system led to widespread delays. 
Officials said more than 150 flight departures were affected due to the malfunction.
The disruption originated from a failure in the Automatic Message Switching System (AMSS), which transmits essential flight plan data to the Auto Track System (ATS).
&ldquo;The issue began on Thursday afternoon at around 3pm. It has not allowed the ATCOs (air traffic controllers) from receiving flight plans automatically on their screens,&rdquo; said an official aware of the situation.
As a result, air traffic controllers have been forced to prepare flight plans manually, significantly slowing down operations. 
&ldquo;Such a glitch is uncommon and has not happened earlier. Since each task before a flight departure is being done manually, there is chaos at Delhi ATC currently,&rdquo; another official said.
According to flight tracking platform Flightradar24, Delhi airport, India&rsquo;s busiest, handles over 1,500 flight movements daily.&nbsp;
The site showed that 513 flights were delayed on Thursday and 171 flights faced delays since Friday morning, with average wait times reaching up to 53 minutes.
The Airports Authority of India (AAI), which oversees ATC operations, has yet to issue a formal statement on the issue. 
Officials said technical teams are working to restore systems, but delays are expected to persist until the problem is resolved.
Airlines including IndiGo and Air India acknowledged the disruptions and issued advisories to passengers on social media.
IndiGo posted on X:
&ldquo;#6ETravelAdvisory Flight operations at #Delhi Airport are currently experiencing delays due to a technical issue with the Air Traffic Control (ATC) system. As a result, flight operations at Delhi and several northern regions are impacted. We understand that extended wait times, both on the ground and onboard, may cause inconvenience, and we sincerely appreciate your patience.&rdquo;
Air India also shared an update, saying, &ldquo;We regret the inconvenience caused by this unforeseen disruption, which is beyond our control, and appreciate your patience. Our cabin crew and on-ground staff at the airport are extending immediate assistance to reduce passenger inconvenience.&rdquo;
Officials said while the glitch is being addressed, operations are likely to remain affected through the day.

Passengers wait amid flight delays at Delhi airport

Over 150 Delhi flights delayed as ATC glitch forces controllers to handle plans manually

Delhi ATC Glitch Disrupts Over 150 Flights

Over 150 Delhi flights delayed as ATC glitch forces controllers to handle plans manually

November 7, 2025 | 10:30 IST