NSA probes possible GPS spoofing at Delhi airport

Post by : Meena Rani

The office of National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval has launched an investigation into possible GPS spoofing incidents reported early last week. The potential cyber interference reportedly occurred a couple of days before massive flight disruptions at Delhi airport, which affected over 800 flights and caused major delays and diversions.

GPS spoofing is a type of cyberattack in which fake satellite signals are transmitted to deceive navigation systems about their actual location. In the Delhi airport case, pilots reported receiving false navigation data, including incorrect aircraft positions and misleading terrain warnings, particularly within a 60-nautical-mile radius of the national capital.

The National Cybersecurity Coordinator (NCSC), operating under the NSA’s office, is responsible for national-level coordination on cybersecurity matters. The current NCSC, Navin Kumar Singh, who assumed office in August this year, works under the National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS) and liaises with agencies including the Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In) and the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY). The NCSC directs the country’s cyber threat response and ensures coordinated action across government bodies.

The ongoing investigation aims to determine the cause and scope of the alleged GPS spoofing. Authorities are examining whether the airport disruption was caused by a technical glitch, a cyberattack, or intentional interference. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and the Airports Authority of India (AAI) are also involved in the probe.

Delhi airport, one of the busiest in the country handling over 1,500 daily flight movements, experienced significant operational disruptions. The glitch caused delays for more than 800 flights, led to at least 20 cancellations, and forced several flights to divert to nearby airports, including Jaipur and Lucknow. Air traffic congestion escalated as pilots relied on manual navigation while controllers switched to ground-based systems.

The incident has raised serious concerns about aviation safety and cyber vulnerabilities, highlighting the critical importance of secure navigation systems in busy airspaces like Delhi’s. Authorities are closely monitoring the situation and have pledged to implement measures to prevent such disruptions in the future.

GPS spoofing, Delhi airport disruption, Air traffic control glitch, National Security Advisor