DGCA begins probe after three Air India planes damaged at Delhi Airport during storm
Due to strong winds, two pieces of ground equipment positioned at adjacent stands and in nearby areas moved from their locations and hit the parked aircraft.
The Airports Authority of India (AAI) on Friday said that the Automatic Message Switching System (AMSS) at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport has been restored after it faced a technical glitch leading to disruptions in flight operations and delays.
“The AMSS systems are up and functional now,” said the AAI in an update shared on X.
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The AAI said that following the AMSS glitch, a review meeting was held by the Secretary, MoCA, with Chairman AAI, Member ANS, and other officials, and necessary directions were given to address the issues.
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“A team of ECIL officials and AAI personnel is still on site,” the Airport Authority said, and added that due to some backlogs, there may be some delays in the normal functioning of automated operations, but the situation will be normal soon.
Earlier in the day, flight operations at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport were severely disrupted and nearly 700 flights were delayed, affecting passengers across the country.
The Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL), in a statement, said that flight operations at Delhi Airport have been affected due to a persistent problem in the AMSS, which supports Air Traffic Control (ATC) flight planning processes.
“All airline operations at Delhi Airport are currently impacted,” the statement said and added, “Concerned authorities are working to resolve the issue at the earliest.”
The airport authority also urged passengers to stay updated through their respective airlines for revised flight schedules.
The Airports Authority of India (AAI) in an earlier statement confirmed the technical snag, stating that controllers were processing flight plans manually, leading to widespread delays.
“Technical teams are working to restore the system at the earliest. We appreciate the understanding and cooperation of all passengers and stakeholders,” the AAI said.
Over 700 flights delayed
According to data from Flightradar24, more than 700 flights were delayed due to the AMSS malfunction, which also impacted operations at Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport and Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport.
Mumbai Airport issued a statement confirming that the AMSS glitch at Delhi had affected airline operations there as well.
As per Flightradar24 data, average delays stood at 23 minutes for arrivals and 84 minutes for departures. At Delhi Airport, around 97 per cent of flights were delayed, leading to long queues and overcrowding in terminals.
Airlines issue advisories
In view of the disruptions, several airlines, including IndiGo, Air India, Air India Express, SpiceJet, and Akasa Air, issued advisories urging passengers to check their flight status before heading to the airport.
“We understand that the ongoing AMSS system issue affecting Air Traffic Control has led to delays and disruptions to travel plans, and we fully understand the inconvenience this may be causing to our customers and their loved ones,” IndiGo said in its advisory.
“While authorities work to restore full system functionality, our priority is to support you with timely updates and assistance across all airport touchpoints. Our teams remain available and are doing their utmost to ensure your journey remains as smooth as possible,” the airline added.
Air India also issued a similar advisory, regretting the inconvenience caused by the “unforeseen disruption.”
“Our cabin crew and ground staff at the airport are extending immediate assistance to minimize passenger inconvenience,” the airline said.
Akasa Air expressed regret as well, stating that the issue was beyond its control. It cautioned passengers that the ATC glitch “may lead to longer wait times at the airport and delays for some of our flights.”
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