Hundreds of flights were delayed at Delhi airport, one of the busiest in the world, after a technical issue with an air traffic control messaging system on Thursday evening, according to India's airport authority and a source familiar with the situation.
The malfunction, which caused average delays of an hour for departures, had the potential to create further disruptions and lead to congestion at other airports across India. Arrival delays also increased due to the growing backlog on the ground, as indicated by Flightradar24 data.
Shares of IndiGo fell by 2% on Friday, while SpiceJet dropped by 1%, as the airlines, alongside the Air India Group, warned of continued delays. The airlines are expected to incur additional costs from passenger care and refunds due to the delays, which are likely to extend into Saturday.
The Airports Authority of India (AAI) explained that the issue stemmed from the Automatic Message Switching System, which generates flight plans. The malfunction forced controllers to manually create flight plans, resulting in the delays.
The problem began on Thursday evening local time, the source added.
"Technical teams are working to restore the system as soon as possible," the AAI stated in a post on X. The agency did not provide further details about the cause of the malfunction.
Some airlines, including Air India Express, have assigned their own personnel to assist air traffic control in manually generating flight plans, another source said.
CNN NEWS 18 reported that authorities were investigating whether computer malware might have caused the issue, although Reuters could not independently confirm this claim.
This incident follows a ransomware attack in September that disrupted automated check-in systems at some of Europe's largest airports, leading to flight delays.
The technical issue in India caused approximately 25 flight departures to be delayed on Thursday, and over 175 on Friday at Delhi airport, the first source said. Delhi airport typically handles 60-70 aircraft movements per hour. Flightradar24 data showed that average departure delays were around 60 minutes.
The glitch also affected several international flights, with an ITA Airways flight to Rome delayed by nearly two hours and a Virgin Atlantic flight to London delayed by more than an hour. The AAI has not provided an estimated time for when the issue will be resolved, according to two airline sources.
Delhi airport, which handled around 78 million passengers in 2024, is the ninth busiest airport in the world, according to Airports Council International. The airport operator is majority-owned by GMR Airports, while air traffic control is managed by the AAI.
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Welcome to our live coverage as the conflict involving Iran enters its 11th day. Tensions in the region remain high as the United States and Iran exchange increasingly sharp warnings over the strategic Strait of Hormuz, a critical artery for global oil supplies.
The Strait of Hormuz has become a focal point of global concern as tensions rise following the conflict involving Iran, the United States and Israel. Tehran has threatened to block the strategic waterway, raising fears of disruption to global oil shipments and energy markets.
Reports of so-called “acid clouds” moving from Iran towards Central Asia are not supported by scientific data, national hydrometeorological services in Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan say, adding there is no threat to the region.
A senior delegation from the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly has been holding meetings with Georgian government officials, opposition leaders and security authorities this week, as international observers attempt to gauge the country’s political climate following last year’s contentious elections.
Welcome to our live coverage as the conflict involving Iran enters its 11th day. Tensions in the region remain high as the United States and Iran exchange increasingly sharp warnings over the strategic Strait of Hormuz, a critical artery for global oil supplies.
Global oil prices surpassed $119 a barrel on Monday (9 March, 2026), an almost four year high, as the Middle East conflict rumbled on.
China has urged Afghanistan and Pakistan to resolve their dispute through dialogue after Chinese envoy Yue Xiaoyong met Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi, as fighting between the two neighbours entered its eleventh day.
Entry and exit across the state border between Azerbaijan and Iran for all types of cargo vehicles, including those in transit, will resume on 9 March, according to a statement by the Cabinet of Ministers of Azerbaijan.
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U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, Mike Waltz, has addressed the U.N. Security Council, saying the world must consider how effective its engagement with the Taliban-run country is as millions face hunger.
British MPs have rejected a proposal to introduce an Australia-style ban on social media for under-16s, opting instead to give ministers flexible powers to impose restrictions on platforms.
Australia has granted humanitarian visas to five Iranian women footballers who sought asylum, fearing persecution after refusing to sing their national anthem at an Asia Cup match.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top news stories for the 10th of March, covering the latest developments you need to know.
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