Mumbai Airport Issues Advisory As Delhi-Bound Flights Delayed By Technical Glitch

Passengers at Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport faced significant delays and cancellations on Friday. A technical glitch in Delhi's Air Traffic Control (ATC) system disrupted operations. The Automatic Message Switching System (AMSS), crucial for flight planning, malfunctioned, affecting airports nationwide. The Airports Authority of India (AAI) confirmed that ATC officials had to switch to partial manual operations, slowing down flight coordination.

By mid-morning, over 200 flights were delayed, and several were cancelled. Terminals were crowded with anxious travellers awaiting updates. IndiGo, Air India, and SpiceJet reported long queues at check-in counters and boarding gates. Many passengers expressed their frustration on social media platforms.

Impact on Passengers

A passenger named Dheeraj shared his experience of an abrupt cancellation of his Air India flight to Delhi. He mentioned the lack of clarity regarding rebooking options. "There is no clarity or official confirmation yet," he said. YouTuber Elvish Yadav also voiced his displeasure over the delays, noting that his IndiGo flight from Mumbai to Delhi was postponed by more than two hours.

Mumbai airport authorities issued a passenger advisory due to the disruption. They informed travellers about the impact on airline operations and advised them to check with their respective airlines for updates. The cascading effects of the disruption led to extended waiting times as airlines worked to restore normalcy.

Efforts to Resolve the Issue

The AAI stated that restoration efforts were underway, although parts of the system continued operating manually. "The issue is being gradually resolved," an official said. With Mumbai being a key hub for Delhi-bound flights, the disruption significantly affected schedules.

One social media user highlighted the situation by posting, "210 aircraft in the waiting queue for departure. If you are flying out, expect long delays." This post underscored the widespread impact on passengers trying to depart from Mumbai.

The technical failure caused widespread disruption across major airports like Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Pune as well. The malfunction forced ATC officials into partial manual operations, which slowed down flight coordination significantly.

The incident serves as a reminder of how dependent modern air travel is on technology and how disruptions can have far-reaching consequences for passengers and airlines alike.