Technical Glitch Disrupts Flight Operations at Mumbai Airport Hours After Delhi Snag Causes Massive Delays

Mumbai: Flight operations at Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) were temporarily disrupted on Friday following a technical glitch that hit air traffic systems. The incident occurred just hours after a similar snag at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport threw flight schedules into chaos, affecting nearly 300 domestic and international flights earlier in the day.

According to an official statement from CSMIA, the disruption stemmed from a malfunction in the Automatic Message Switching System (AMSS) — a crucial component that supports Air Traffic Control (ATC) flight planning and coordination.

“The technical issue at Delhi affected the AMSS, which in turn impacted flight planning processes across airports, including Mumbai. As a result, airline operations may experience delays. Passengers are advised to contact their respective airlines for updated flight schedules,” the airport authority said.

Officials confirmed that engineers and ATC teams were working on a war footing to restore normalcy. “We regret the inconvenience caused and appreciate the patience and cooperation of passengers,” the statement added.

Earlier in the day, the Delhi airport — one of the busiest in India, handling nearly 1,500 flights daily — faced severe disruptions, leading to widespread delays and long queues. Aviation authorities later clarified that both incidents were linked to a technical fault in the flight data management network, which temporarily hindered communication between control centers.