Govt Probes GPS Spoofing at 7 Key Airports

The Indian government is investigating multiple incidents of GPS spoofing reported at seven major airports: Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Amritsar, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, and Chennai.

In a written reply to the Rajya Sabha, Civil Aviation Minister K. Rammohan Naidu confirmed that the Wireless Monitoring Organisation (WMO) has been directed to identify the source of the spoofing, which affects aircraft navigation systems.

Spoofing at Delhi’s Runway 10

Several flights reported GPS interference while using satellite-based landing procedures on Runway 10 at Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA). Pilots followed contingency procedures, and operations on other runways remained unaffected due to the use of conventional navigation systems.

What Is GPS Spoofing?

GPS spoofing involves transmitting fake satellite signals to mislead navigation systems—posing risks to aviation safety if not addressed promptly.

DGCA Orders Fast Reporting

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has instructed all airlines, pilots, and air traffic controllers to report spoofing incidents within 10 minutes. Since November 2023, regular interference reports have been received from other airports, prompting national scrutiny.

The Airports Authority of India (AAI) and DGCA have shared location data with WMO to aid in tracking down the interference sources. The WMO operates under the Department of Telecommunications.

Cybersecurity and Global Compliance

Minister Naidu noted that India maintains a Minimum Operating Network of ground-based systems and aligns with global best practices in navigation safety. The country is also participating in international platforms to adopt the latest technologies.

To address broader cyber threats like ransomware and malware, AAI is deploying advanced cybersecurity solutions in line with NCIIPC and CERT-In guidelines.

“Cybersecurity is being continuously upgraded to meet evolving threats,” Naidu stated.