Explained: How GPS Spoofing Disrupted Flights at Delhi Airport

For the first time, Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) has been affected by GPS spoofing incidents, causing severe flight disruptions and multiple diversions, according to a Times of India report.

The disruptions have intensified in recent days, particularly when easterly winds force aircraft to land from the Dwarka side and take off toward Vasant Kunj, creating airspace congestion.

What Is GPS Spoofing and How Does It Work?

GPS spoofing happens when counterfeit satellite signals are transmitted to mislead GPS receivers. These fake signals trick navigation systems into reading false coordinates, making aircraft or vehicles appear elsewhere on radar.

Unlike GPS jamming, which blocks signals, spoofing manipulates data, creating false navigation readings. While such incidents have been observed near conflict zones like the Black Sea and West Asia, this marks the first recorded case in Delhi’s airspace.

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Runway Upgrade Worsens the Impact

The problem has been compounded by the temporary suspension of the Instrument Landing System (ILS) on IGIA’s main runway 10/28, which is currently being upgraded to Category III standards.

Once completed, the system will allow landings in dense winter fog from both ends. However, during the upgrade, flights are relying on Required Navigation Performance (RNP), a GPS-based navigation aid — which spoofing directly affects.

The false signals reportedly impacted aircraft up to 60 nautical miles away from IGIA, leading to seven diversions on Tuesday night — five IndiGo and two Air India flights — redirected to Jaipur due to navigation errors.

Congestion and Safety Measures

With 1,550 daily aircraft movements, even brief disruptions can cause heavy congestion at Delhi Airport.

The Automatic Terminal Information Service (ATIS) has repeatedly warned pilots to cross-check coordinates and switch to alternate navigation systems when irregularities appear.

Authorities, including Delhi International Airport Ltd (DIAL) and aviation regulators, aim to restore ILS functionality by November 27. IndiGo has already conducted a test flight on the upgraded system, and the findings were submitted to the DGCA.

An aviation source told the newspaper, “ILS promulgation on the runway needs to be expedited as Nov 27 is a good three weeks away.”

A Global Concern in Aviation Safety

Experts warn that GPS jamming and spoofing are increasingly common in global conflict zones — the former concealing military positions and the latter confusing aircraft navigation.

Spoofed signals can divert readings by as much as 2,500 km, posing serious risks to civil aviation. Airlines worldwide have begun alerting pilots about spoofing-prone areas and encouraging reliance on traditional navigation aids like VOR and DME when affected.

Authorities have acknowledged awareness of the spoofing threat but have not disclosed its source, citing security concerns. Their main focus remains the early restoration of ILS on runway 10/28, which will feature Category III systems on both ends, improving safety during fog and technical disruptions.

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