Crew can identify spoofing events from inconsistent or conflicting data displayed on their instruments. | Photo credit: Getty Images/iStockphoto
Aircraft flying over Delhi have been experiencing “severe” GPS spoofing over the past week, causing false navigation data such as incorrect aircraft positions and misleading terrain warnings, according to pilots and air traffic control sources.
“The DGCA has taken up the matter,” said a top government official, adding that they are investigating the incidents.
According to an air traffic controller, such incidents have been reported within 60 nautical miles of Delhi during the past week. Another ATC official said the disruption often required manual intervention, with controllers giving direct navigation instructions to the cockpit crew.
A pilot for a major airline said he encountered GPS spoofing on all six days he operated flights last week. During one approach to Delhi airport, its cockpit systems even issued a false terrain warning, indicating obstacles ahead where there were none. Others encountered a similar warning when taking off from the airport. This also caused flight delays at the busy airport.
Sources explained that while it was common to experience GPS spoofing over India’s border with Pakistan, such instances over Delhi were unusual. There was no advisory in the vicinity of Delhi alerting pilots and air traffic controllers to the military exercise requiring them to exercise caution.
What is spoofing?
Spoofing is a type of cyber attack that transmits fake GPS signals to misleading navigation systems. It has been observed in conflict zones where it is often used to disrupt or disable drones deployed in modern warfare.
Cases of GPS jamming have been on the rise since 2023, with India’s borders with Pakistan and Myanmar becoming the most frequent locations for such incidents globally.
In a November 2023 report, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) directed airlines to implement standard operating procedures and submit reports on GPS spoofing incidents every two months. The Indian government has also raised the matter with the UN’s International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) for its aviation safety oversight. Global watchdog classifies GPS spoofing as ‘significant cyber risk’
GPS spoofing in itself does not impede the safety of the aircraft, as aircraft systems are built with several redundancies, including an inertial reference system, also used for navigation, which continues to operate safely for up to five hours even if the primary system fails.
Pilots are alerted to GPS jamming and spoofing through a combination of dedicated cockpit system messages, degradation of other integrated navigation systems, and cross-referencing with other information sources such as Notices to Airmen (NOTAM) and Air Traffic Control (ATC).
Published – 06 Nov 2025 10:53 IST
