The Union government of India, the country’s central federal administration, on Monday confirmed several instances of GPS spoofing near Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) and other major airports. Officials said that despite the interference, all flights continued to operate safely and without disruption.
The clarification came after reports pointed to digital interference affecting aircraft navigation systems during approach procedures at some of the busiest airports in the country.
What Is GPS Spoofing?
GPS spoofing is a form of signal interference where false Global Positioning System (GPS) signals are broadcast to mislead navigation systems. For aircraft, it can temporarily confuse onboard systems about their true location or altitude.
While pilots and air traffic controllers are trained to manage such situations, repeated interference requires immediate reporting and stronger safeguards.
Government Confirms Incidents at Multiple Airports
India’s Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu informed Parliament that several flights approaching Delhi reported GPS spoofing while using satellite-based landing procedures on Runway 10.
In a written reply to the Rajya Sabha, the minister confirmed that similar signal interference reports have been received from several India’s major airports, including Mumbai, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Amritsar, and Chennai.
He explained that when GPS spoofing was detected in Delhi, contingency procedures were activated for flights approaching the affected runway.
The rest of the airport continued functioning normally through conventional ground-based navigation systems, preventing any impact on overall flight operations.
Safety Procedures and New Reporting System
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has issued a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for real-time reporting of GPS spoofing and Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) interference around IGI Airport.
The minister added that since DGCA made reporting mandatory in November 2023, regular interference alerts have been received from major airports across the country. These reports are helping regulators identify patterns and respond more quickly to any navigation-related disturbances.
India continues to maintain a network of traditional navigation and surveillance systems such as Instrument Landing Systems (ILS) and radar. These systems act as dependable backups if satellite-based navigation is interrupted, following global aviation best practices.
Airports on High Cyber Vigilance
The government said India is actively engaging with global aviation bodies to stay updated on the latest technologies, methods, and safety measures related to aviation cybersecurity. Meanwhile, the Airports Authority of India (AAI) is deploying advanced cybersecurity tools across its IT infrastructure to strengthen protection against potential digital threats.
Although the cyber-related interference did not affect flight schedules, the confirmation of GPS spoofing attempts at major airports has led to increased monitoring across key aviation hubs. These airports handle millions of passengers every year, making continuous vigilance essential.
Recent Aviation Challenges
The GPS spoofing reports come shortly after a separate system failure at Delhi Airport in November, which caused major delays. That incident was later linked to a technical issue with the Automatic Message Switching System (AMSS) and was not related to cyber activity.
The aviation sector also faced another challenge recently when Airbus A320 aircraft required an urgent software update. The A320, widely used in India, led to around 388 delayed flights on Saturday. All Indian airlines completed the required updates by Sunday, allowing normal operations to resume.
Despite reports of interference, the Union government emphasised that there was no impact on passenger safety or flight operations. Established procedures, trained crews, and reliable backup systems ensured that aircraft continued operating normally.
Authorities said they will continue monitoring navigation systems closely and strengthening cybersecurity measures across airports to safeguard India’s aviation network.