Chaos at Delhi Airport: Technical Glitch Disrupts 400+ Flights, Mumbai Operations Affected
Passengers at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) faced severe disruptions on [insert date] after a critical technical glitch in the airport’s A-CDM (Airport Collaborative Decision Making) system caused delays for over 400 flights, with cascading effects on Mumbai and other major airports. Thousands of travelers were stranded in long queues, with airlines struggling to manage schedules.
What Caused the Flight Delays?
The disruption stemmed from a failure in the A-CDM system, which coordinates real-time flight data among airlines, air traffic control, and ground handlers. Without this system, flight operations were severely impacted, leading to delays of 3-4 hours for multiple carriers, including:
– IndiGo
– Air India
– Vistara
– SpiceJet
Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL) resolved the issue within four hours, but the backlog caused prolonged disruptions.
Mumbai Airport Also Faces Delays
The ripple effect hit Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA), with several Delhi-bound and connecting flights delayed or rescheduled. As two of India’s busiest airports, the glitch impacted travel across cities like Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Kolkata.
Passenger Frustration and Airport Response
Angry passengers took to Twitter and Instagram, sharing images of overcrowded terminals. Many complained about lack of timely updates from airlines.
DIAL’s official statement read:
“We regret the inconvenience caused by the temporary A-CDM system issue. Our teams restored operations swiftly and are working with airlines to assist affected passengers.”
Is This a Recurring Issue?
Delhi Airport has seen similar technical failures and fog-related delays in recent years, raising concerns about India’s aviation infrastructure resilience. With India now the world’s third-largest domestic aviation market, experts urge better backup systems to handle increasing air traffic.
Travel Advisory: How to Avoid Delays
If flying in the next 24-48 hours:
✅ Check real-time flight status via airline apps or airport websites.
✅ Arrive early to account for potential delays.
✅ Follow airlines on social media for instant updates.
✅ Know your DGCA rights—compensation applies for cancellations or excessive delays.
The Way Forward
While the immediate issue is resolved, the incident highlights the need for:
🔹 Stronger backup systems
🔹 Better passenger communication
🔹 Infrastructure upgrades before monsoon and winter fog seasons.
Stay tuned for live updates on flight resumptions.
