GPS Spoofing Incidents Reported Near Major Indian Airports

The Indian government has acknowledged reports of GPS spoofing and interference affecting flights operating in the vicinity of various major airports, including Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi, Mumbai, and Kolkata. This information was disclosed in a parliamentary session on 1 December 2025 by Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu, following inquiries by Member of Parliament S Niranjan Reddy.

In his written response to the Rajya Sabha, Naidu outlined that the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) mandated the reporting of any GPS jamming or spoofing incidents in November 2023. As a result, there have been consistent reports from multiple airports, including those in Amritsar, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, and Chennai, regarding similar occurrences.

The minister specified that certain flights approaching the Indira Gandhi International Airport reported GPS spoofing while utilising satellite-based landing procedures on Runway 10. To manage these incidents, contingency procedures were implemented for the affected flights. Importantly, operations on other runways, which rely on traditional ground-based navigation systems, remained unaffected.

To address the growing concern of GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) interference, the DGCA issued an advisory circular in November 2023 and subsequently introduced a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) on 10 November 2025. This SOP mandates immediate reporting by pilots and air traffic controllers when they detect any abnormal GPS behaviour.

India's aviation authorities maintain a Minimum Operating Network (MON) consisting of conventional, ground-based navigation and surveillance systems, adhering to global best practices. These systems serve as a reliable backup when satellite-based navigation faces disruptions.

The Airports Authority of India (AAI) has enlisted the assistance of the Wireless Monitoring Organisation (WMO) to determine the source of the interference. During a recent high-level meeting, WMO was instructed to deploy additional resources to track the origin of the spoofing signals, utilising data provided by the DGCA and AAI.

Alongside these navigational concerns, Minister Naidu highlighted the broader cybersecurity threats facing the aviation sector, including ransomware and malware targeting essential systems. In response, the AAI is implementing advanced cybersecurity measures across its IT networks and infrastructure, in line with guidelines from the National Critical Information Infrastructure Protection Centre (NCIIPC) and the Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In).

Naidu noted that cybersecurity strategies are being continuously refined, with new protective measures introduced as threats evolve. He emphasised that India is actively participating in global aviation security forums to remain informed about the latest technologies and methodologies in this field.

The rise in GPS spoofing incidents has raised alarms regarding aviation safety, prompting calls for enhanced vigilance and rapid response protocols within the sector.