Escalating Navigation Threats: India Reports GPS Spoofing at Multiple Major Airports
December 1, 2025
The Indian government confirmed multiple instances of GPS spoofing near major airports, including Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport, leading to the implementation of safety measures. Despite these incidents, all flights continued to operate safely.
On Monday, the Union government of India acknowledged multiple instances of GPS spoofing affecting aircraft near major airports, notably Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi. Despite these incidents, officials reported that all flights have continued to operate without disruption. GPS spoofing involves broadcasting false signals to mislead navigation systems, temporarily confusing pilots regarding their aircraft's actual position or altitude. As a response to these threats, India's Civil Aviation Minister, Ram Mohan Naidu, revealed in Parliament that several flights reported interference, particularly on runway approaches at significant airports such as Mumbai, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Amritsar, and Chennai. When GPS spoofing was detected, contingency measures were implemented to ensure flight safety while traditional navigation systems remained operational.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has developed a Standard Operating Procedure for real-time reporting of GPS spoofing and Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) interference, which became mandatory in November 2023. This proactive measure aims to improve the identification of interference patterns and allows for a faster regulatory response to navigation issues. These procedures complement India's existing backup systems, including Instrument Landing Systems (ILS) and radar technology, to conform with global aviation standards.
In light of these challenges, Indian authorities are enhancing cybersecurity vigilance at major airports. The Airports Authority of India is implementing advanced cybersecurity tools to bolster defenses against potential threats, while monitoring efforts are increasing in relevance due to the volume of international and domestic air traffic these hubs manage. Although no direct impact on flight operations has been reported, the announcement of GPS spoofing cases has prompted a more stringent regulatory and technical response to protect the national aviation infrastructure. Recent difficulties, including a technical failure connected to the Automatic Message Switching System at Delhi Airport and delays affecting the Airbus A320 fleet due to an urgent software update, further underline the importance of technological reliability in operations. The Indian government remains committed to safeguarding passenger safety through robust monitoring of navigation systems and a continued focus on cybersecurity advancements across the aviation sector.
