Delhi Airport Chaos: 24-Hour ATC Glitch Disrupts Flights, Strands Passengers
Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA), among the world’s busiest aviation hubs, faced severe disruptions after a massive ATC system failure halted operations for over 24 hours. The glitch, which began early Tuesday, delayed or canceled hundreds of flights, stranding thousands of passengers and causing nationwide aviation chaos. By Wednesday afternoon, officials confirmed normalcy had returned—but the incident has reignited concerns over India’s aviation infrastructure.
What Caused the ATC System Failure?
The crisis erupted around 6:30 AM on Tuesday when the airport’s automated ATC software malfunctioned, forcing controllers to switch to manual processing. The downgrade slashed flight-handling capacity by 50%, from the usual 70–80 flights per hour to just 30–40.
Passengers endured 8–12 hour delays, flooding social media with complaints. Airlines struggled with schedule reshuffles, while airport staff set up emergency help desks. “My flight’s been delayed for 10 hours with no updates,” lamented Rohit Sharma, a stranded Mumbai-bound traveler.
Airlines, Passengers Face Major Setbacks
The disruption rippled across India’s aviation network, hitting major routes like Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad. International flights were also affected, with carriers like Air India and Vistara diverting planes to alternate airports.
Budget airlines suffered the most—IndiGo and SpiceJet canceled 50+ flights, with many more delayed. The financial and reputational fallout for airlines could stretch into crores of rupees.
How Authorities Resolved the Crisis
The Ministry of Civil Aviation and Airports Authority of India (AAI) launched an immediate probe. Early findings suggest a software update triggered compatibility issues with the ATC mainframe. Backup protocols failed to handle the traffic surge.
Engineers worked overnight to restore automation, stabilizing operations by Wednesday noon. “We apologize for the inconvenience and are reinforcing safeguards,” an AAI official stated.
Bigger Questions: Is India’s Aviation Infrastructure Ready?
This isn’t India’s first ATC breakdown—a 2023 Mumbai airport glitch caused similar delays. With India set to become the world’s third-largest aviation market by 2026, experts warn that outdated ATC systems risk more chaos.
“Modernization is urgent. India needs AI-driven ATC upgrades and redundancies,” said aviation analyst Tarun Shukla.
What’s Next for India’s ATC Systems?
The government plans to fast-track National Air Navigation Services (NAV) upgrades, while airlines must compensate affected passengers per DGCA norms.
For now, Delhi Airport is back to normal—but the 24-hour ordeal underscores that aviation growth demands unshakable technical resilience.
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