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The Indian government admitted in Parliament that major airports, including Delhi IGI, faced GPS spoofing incidents in November, affecting flight operations. GPS spoofing, a cyber attack sending fake signals to navigation systems, can mislead aircraft and create safety risks.
Delhi IGI Hit by GPS Interference, Flights Safe
New Delhi: In early November, air services at major airports across the country experienced significant disruptions. Nearly 800 flights were affected at Delhi's Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport. At the time, ATC attributed the incident to a malfunction in the automatic message switching system. However, the central government has now acknowledged in a written statement to Parliament that GPS spoofing had occurred at several major airports, including Delhi. This means that flights arriving and departing at these airports were receiving incorrect locations due to a false signal.
Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu stated that some aircraft flying near IGI Airport reported GPS spoofing. This problem was observed during GPS-based landings on Runway 10. As soon as the spoofing was detected, alternative procedures were implemented, allowing aircraft to land safely. The minister added that other runways remained completely safe because conventional navigation systems were available. There was no serious impact on flight operations.
Was Delhi Airport a Cyber Attack? 465 Spoofing Incidents in the Last 16 Months
According to the government, reporting of GPS jamming/spoofing was made mandatory from November 2023. Following this, complaints of this problem have also been received from Kolkata, Amritsar, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, and Chennai airports. Incidents of GNSS interference have been reported at all these airports.
GPS spoofing is a type of cyber attack that sends fake signals to a device or aircraft to display a false location. This can impact the aircraft's navigation system and increase the risk of a misdirection, leading to an accident.
The government has taken several steps since this issue became apparent. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has issued an advisory to address GNSS interference. A new SOP has been implemented for real-time reporting of GPS spoofing. The Airports Authority of India (AAI) has directed the WMO to identify the source of the interference and investigate suspicious locations.
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In response to the growing ransomware and malware threats in the aviation sector, AAI has implemented advanced cybersecurity measures across its IT network and infrastructure. All measures are in line with NCIIPC and CERT-IN guidelines. Security systems are being continuously upgraded to respond promptly to evolving threats.
Recognizing the problem of GPS spoofing at major airports across the country, the government has taken several significant steps to further strengthen aircraft security and surveillance.
