Cyber Attack on Indian Aviation Network: Govt Confirms GPS Spoofing at Major Airports, AMSS Failure Delayed 800+ Flights

Cyber Attack on Indian Airports: India’s aviation sector has been thrust into the spotlight after the government officially confirmed cyber incidents involving GPS spoofing at multiple major airports, including Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Chennai and Amritsar. Aircraft approaching Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport reported receiving false satellite signals during GPS-based landing procedures on Runway 10, triggering immediate contingency responses. 

Although these GPS spoofing attacks did not halt flight operations, a separate failure in the Automatic Message Switching System (AMSS) at Delhi Airport had already caused one of the worst disruptions in recent months, delaying more than 800 flights and cancelling 20. The twin incidents have intensified concerns over the digital safety of India’s rapidly modernising aviation infrastructure.

Key Takeaways on the Indian Airport GPS Spoofing & AMSS Breakdown (SEO-Optimized)

• Government Confirms GPS Spoofing: Flights near Delhi IGI Airport detected false GPS signals during satellite-based landing procedures on Runway 10.
  
• Seven Airports Affected: Similar interference was reported in Mumbai, Bengaluru, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Chennai and Amritsar.
  
• Contingency Systems Saved Operations: Conventional navigation aids ensured safe landings despite spoofed GPS readings.
  
• WMO Deployed: Wireless Monitoring Organisation is tracing the source of spoofing signals.
  
• AMSS Failure Caused Massive Disruptions: Over 800 flights delayed, 20 cancelled during the 12-hour outage on November 7.
  
• Cyber Threats Rising: Govt warns of increasing ransomware and malware risks targeting global aviation systems.
  
• AAI Strengthens Cybersecurity: Advanced protection layers being implemented under NCIIPC and CERT-In guidelines.
  
• Nationwide Ripple Effect: Delhi delays affected multiple airports including Mumbai, Bhopal, Chandigarh and Amritsar.
  
• A320 Software Glitch Added Pressure: 388 flights were impacted nationwide due to global Airbus A320 software fixes.
  

Government Confirms GPS Spoofing at India’s Busiest Airports

India’s central government has formally acknowledged that several major airports were targeted through GPS spoofing — a sophisticated cyber technique that sends false yet believable satellite signals to aircraft navigation systems. The revelation came from Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu in Parliament while responding to questions raised by MP S. Niranjan Reddy.

Pilots approaching Delhi’s IGI Airport reported that their GPS readings did not match actual position and altitude data during satellite-based approaches. The issue was specifically noted on Runway 10, one of the busiest approach paths in the country.

What prevented disaster was the immediate shift to contingency procedures and the availability of conventional navigation systems, which remained fully functional.

GPS Spoofing Explained: A Dangerous Aviation Threat

GPS spoofing is not the same as signal jamming.
While jamming blocks GPS signals, spoofing replaces them with false ones.

How GPS Spoofing Works

• Sends fake satellite signals
  
• Misleads aircraft navigation systems
  
• Alters perceived altitude, position or speed
  
• Forces sudden procedural changes for pilots
  

This risk becomes especially serious during landing, when precision is crucial. The government said that India’s layered navigation system and ATC support ensured no flight was compromised.

Seven Airports Reported Signal Interference

The government confirmed reports of similar GPS anomalies from:

• Mumbai
  
• Kolkata
  
• Hyderabad
  
• Bengaluru
  
• Chennai
  
• Amritsar
  
• Delhi IGI Airport
  

All these hubs have now been placed under heightened cyber vigilance due to rising digital threats globally.

AAI’s Cybersecurity Response: Upgrades & Audits Underway

In view of increasing ransomware and malware attacks on aviation networks worldwide, the Airports Authority of India (AAI) has initiated advanced cybersecurity enhancements.

Measures Being Implemented

• Strengthening of IT and ATC infrastructure
  
• Multi-layered cyber-defence systems
  
• Compliance with NCIIPC and CERT-In security frameworks
  
• Comprehensive nationwide cybersecurity audits
  
• Continuous monitoring of navigational data integrity
  

The government reiterated that cybersecurity updates are ongoing and will be upgraded as new threats emerge.

AMSS Failure on November 7 Triggered India’s Worst Flight Disruptions This Season

While GPS spoofing did not stop flights, a technical failure in Delhi’s Automatic Message Switching System (AMSS) earlier caused massive operational chaos.

The AMSS fault, which began at 9:00 AM on November 7, disrupted automated flight-plan messaging and forced controllers to revert to fully manual operations. The system was restored only around 9:30 PM, causing nearly 12 hours of severe disruption.

Impact of the AMSS Breakdown

Passengers reported long queues at boarding gates and difficulty accessing real-time flight status despite airlines providing periodic updates.

Also Read: Jaguar Land Rover Cyber Attack 2025: What Every Business Can Learn

What AMSS Does—and Why Its Failure Crippled Operations

The AMSS is a central nervous system for air traffic communication. It sends thousands of text-based operational messages every day to pilots, ATC, ground teams and airports.

Key Functions of AMSS

• Shares flight plans
  
• Provides route and altitude details
  
• Issues takeoff/landing times
  
• Sends weather alerts
  
• Updates delays or cancellations
  
• Sends airspace warnings
  

When AMSS Fails

• Automatic messages stop flowing
  
• ATC must handle every clearance manually
  
• Congestion increases
  
• Flight plans take longer to approve
  
• Risk of human error multiplies
  
• Delays ripple across the country
  

Airport authorities advised passengers to stay connected with their airlines for the most accurate updates.

A320 Software Glitch Added Pressure on Airlines

The cyber attack revelations came just days after a global technical issue involving Airbus A320 aircraft, which required urgent software updates. The A320 is the backbone of most Indian airlines, and the issue affected 388 flights across India before being resolved the next day.

Strengthening India’s Digital Shield in Aviation

The combined impact of spoofing threats, system failures and global software glitches has made it clear that aviation security today is as much digital as physical. With airports becoming technology-heavy hubs, safeguarding their cyber layers is no longer optional — it is essential.

India’s aviation authorities say they are accelerating monitoring, tracing interference sources, upgrading systems and ensuring round-the-clock cyber protection.

Securing the Skies: The Road Ahead for India’s Aviation Network 

India’s confirmation of GPS spoofing attacks and the large-scale AMSS failure has underscored the urgent need for stronger cybersecurity in aviation. While pilots and ATC successfully averted risks during spoofing attempts, the November 7 outage exposed the vulnerability of critical digital systems. 

With seven airports affected, 800+ flights disrupted and global A320 issues adding to operational pressure, the government has stepped up cyber audits, monitoring and system upgrades. 

As India’s airports continue evolving into advanced digital hubs, the safety of passengers will depend on how effectively these new cybersecurity layers are strengthened and maintained.

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