More than 150-200 flights across airlines were reportedly affected and delayed at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) and several other airports in northern India today after a technical snag in the Air Traffic Control (ATC) system’s Automatic Message Switching System (AMSS). The disruption prompted major airlines to issue statements informing passengers about the delays.

The Airport Authority of India, in a statement, said controllers are processing flight plans manually, leading to some delays. "Flight operations at Delhi Airport are experiencing delays due to a technical issue in the Automatic Message Switching System (AMSS), which supports Air Traffic Control data. Controllers are processing flight plans manually, leading to some delays. Technical teams are working to restore the system at the earliest. We appreciate the understanding and cooperation of all passengers and stakeholders," the statement said.

India's major airlines also informed passengers about the technical issue with the AMSS, which led to an impact on flights not only at the Delhi Airport but other airports in the northern region as well. "Due to an ongoing technical issue with the Automatic Message Switching System (AMSS) that supports Air Traffic Control data, flights across all airlines at #DelhiAirport and some other airports in the northern region are currently experiencing delays," IndiGo said on X.

IndiGo also assured that the authorities are working to restore the system. "We understand how inconvenient and uncertain this can be, especially when travel plans are involved. Please be assured that the authorities are working to restore the system at the earliest, and our on-ground teams are doing their best to support you and ensure continuity of services," said IndiGo.

Air India also issued a statement on X, saying due to the ongoing issue, its cabin crew and on-ground staff at the airport are extending immediate assistance to reduce passenger inconvenience. "A technical issue with the ATC system in Delhi is impacting flight operations across all airlines, leading to delays and longer wait times at the airport and onboard aircraft. We regret the inconvenience caused by this unforeseen disruption, which is beyond our control, and appreciate your patience."

On Wednesday as well, as per Air India, a third-party connectivity network issue had impacted check-in systems at some airports, thereby delaying flight departures of some airlines, including Air India. Though some flights were delayed for some time, the system was later restored.

SpiceJet also issued a statement, saying flight operations at the Delhi Airport are affected due to a technical issue with the Air Traffic Control (ATC) system, which has impacted flights across Delhi and several northern regions. "We sincerely regret the inconvenience this may cause. Our crew and ground teams are assisting passengers and working closely with the authorities to minimize the impact and resume normal operations as soon as possible."

Akasa Airline's statement read: "Due to a technical issue with the ATC (Air Traffic Control) system at Delhi airport, our flight operations across the network may be impacted. This may lead to longer wait times at the airport and delays for some of our flights. While this situation is beyond our control, we sincerely regret the inconvenience to your travel plans and seek your understanding during these times."

User comments on the AAI post on X said that "Lucknow airport also facing delays". Another user posted: "Can I read more about this? I want to know exact technical is it Software or Hardware issue?".

IGIA is one of the busiest airports in the country. It handles more than 1,500 flights per day. According to flight tracking website Flightradar24, 513 flights were delayed on Thursday alone and 171 delayed since morning.