Description

The Indian government has officially confirmed that seven major airports across the country were targeted in a coordinated cyberattack involving GPS spoofing. These incidents affected some of India’s busiest air hubs, including Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Hyderabad, and Bengaluru airports crucial for both domestic and international air traffic. According to statements made in Parliament by Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu, multiple flights approaching Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGI) in Delhi reported false GPS signals while executing GPS-based landing procedures on Runway 10. GPS spoofing, a technique where attackers broadcast deceptive GPS signals to manipulate an aircraft’s understanding of its position, posed a potential safety risk, though authorities emphasized that flight operations continued without cancellation due to robust contingency protocols in place. Despite the seriousness of the attack, the government stressed that no operational disruption or passenger impact occurred. Air Traffic Control systems were able to maintain stability, supported by backup navigation systems and on-ground safety mechanisms. However, the confirmation of successful interference against core aviation navigation infrastructure highlights a growing vulnerability within India’s digital and critical infrastructure ecosystem. Airports affected by the attack have now increased cyber monitoring, implemented additional protective measures, and coordinated closely with national cybersecurity agencies to prevent further interference. The incident has renewed concerns about the reliance on GPS-based landing procedures and has prompted calls for strengthening cyber defenses across the aviation sector. This cyberattack also comes at a time when India’s aviation sector has faced multiple operational challenges. Just weeks earlier, a system failure at Delhi airport’s Automatic Message Switching System (AMSS) caused major delays, initially sparking speculation of cyber involvement before being confirmed as a technical malfunction. Moreover, global aviation recently experienced widespread disruptions due to a software fix required on Airbus A320 aircraft, affecting nearly 400 flights in India alone. With this new GPS spoofing confirmation, India has intensified its cyber vigilance efforts, recognizing that aviation infrastructure one of the country’s most critical national assets remains a prime target for sophisticated cyber threats.