A total of 623 incidents of GPS interference were reported by airlines operating near Delhi airspace between January and February this year. Minister of State for Civil Aviation, Murlidhar Mohol, disclosed that over a two-year period from November 2023 to December 2025, airlines reported a total of 2,354 GPS interference incidents to the Parliament.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has issued an Advisory Circular dated November 24, 2023, to tackle Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) interference in airspace. Additionally, a Standard Operating Procedure (SoP) dated November 10, 2025, has been issued for real-time reporting of GPS Spoofing and GNSS interference events around IGI airport.
The Airports Authority of India (AAI) has informed the Wireless Monitoring Organisation (WMO) about incidents of GPS interference/spoofing for further investigation. The minister highlighted that disruptions linked to GPS spoofing are a global concern, particularly prevalent in areas near conflict zones.
Cybersecurity threats to the aviation sector mainly manifest as ransomware or malware. The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) recognizes GNSS spoofing as a deliberate form of Radio Frequency Interference (RFI).
The ICAO GNSS Manual outlines a mitigation plan that includes preventive and reactive measures, emphasizing continuous threat monitoring, risk assessment, and the implementation of mitigation strategies. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has issued guidance advisories to airlines in response.
Union Minister of Civil Aviation Ram Mohan Naidu previously mentioned the use of contingency procedures for GPS-spoofed flights approaching Runway 10 at Delhi airport. Despite this, there were no disruptions to flight movements on other runway ends equipped with conventional navigational aids.
GPS spoofing incidents result in false navigation data, leading to incorrect aircraft positions and misleading terrain warnings, posing a significant safety risk to flights, as noted by pilots and air traffic control officials. These incidents have been reported within a 60 nautical mile radius of Delhi, often necessitating manual intervention by air traffic controllers to provide direct navigation guidance to cockpit crews.
