Flight operations at Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) are gradually improving after a significant technical glitch in the Air Traffic Control (ATC) system caused widespread disruptions. The issue, which began on Thursday evening, affected the Automatic Message Switching System (AMSS), leading to delays for over 800 flights and leaving many passengers stranded.

By Saturday, the situation was reported to be improving, with flight tracking data indicating that 129 flights were delayed, a significant reduction from the nearly 800 delays experienced the previous day. The average delay for arrivals was about five minutes, while departures faced delays of around 19 minutes.

A statement from the Delhi airport confirmed that the technical issue affecting the AMSS was being resolved, and airline operations were returning to normal. Passengers were advised to stay updated with their airlines regarding flight schedules.

The AMSS is crucial for processing flight plans and operational updates. When it malfunctioned, controllers had to manually handle flight data, which slowed down operations significantly. The Airports Authority of India (AAI) stated that while technical issues are uncommon, the safety of flights was never compromised.

In addition to the AMSS failure, experts have raised concerns about potential GPS spoofing incidents that may have further complicated operations at the airport. GPS spoofing involves sending false satellite signals, which can mislead aircraft about their actual positions. This issue, combined with the closure of the main runway's Instrument Landing System (ILS) for upgrades, contributed to the congestion at IGIA, which handles around 1,500 flights daily.

As the situation stabilises, authorities are working to fully restore the ILS functionality by November 27. Passengers are encouraged to remain patient as the airport works to normalise operations after this significant disruption.