Rising GPS Interference at Indian Airports Sparks Safety Concerns: IATA

New Delhi/Geneva:

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has raised serious concerns over the rising number of GPS spoofing and jamming incidents worldwide, with a noticeable spike reported across several major Indian airports. The global airline body warned that increasing interference with satellite navigation systems poses a growing operational risk for pilots and flight safety.

IATA, which represents over 360 airlines accounting for more than 80% of global air traffic, said airports including Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Amritsar, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, and Chennai have recorded multiple GPS interference events in recent months.

Speaking at an industry interaction in Geneva, IATA Director General Willie Walsh said the issue is no longer confined to conflict zones. “GPS spoofing and jamming incidents are increasing rapidly across the world. This is not merely a technical concern — it’s an operational vigilance issue for pilots,” he said.

What Is GPS Spoofing and Jamming?

Modern aircraft rely heavily on the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) for positioning, navigation, and altitude data.

• GPS spoofing involves broadcasting false signals to mislead onboard navigation systems.

• GPS jamming disrupts legitimate satellite signals, rendering navigation data unreliable or unavailable.

The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) classifies such incidents as Radio Frequency Interference (RFI), identifying them as an emerging global aviation safety threat.

Growing Incidents in India

India’s Civil Aviation Ministry informed Parliament that between November 2023 and November 2025, a total of 1,951 GNSS interference cases were reported. Systematic data collection began after the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) issued a mandatory reporting advisory in November 2023.

Officials said most incidents occurred during the cruise phase of flights, often near international borders or sensitive airspace. While no major accidents have been attributed to these disruptions so far, airlines have been instructed to maintain heightened operational vigilance.

IATA Data Shows Sharp Increase

According to Nick Careen, IATA’s Senior Vice President for Operations, Safety, and Security, the rate of GPS signal loss has nearly doubled in three years — from 31 events per 1,000 flights in 2022 to 59 events in 2025.

The data is sourced from IATA’s Flight Data eXchange (FDX), part of its Global Aviation Data Management programme, which aggregates de-identified operational data from airlines worldwide.

“This rise cannot be explained by increased flight volumes alone,” Careen said. “It clearly indicates that GPS interference is becoming more frequent and geographically widespread.”

Global Spread and Military Link

Initially concentrated in parts of the Middle East, GPS disruptions expanded following the Russia-Ukraine conflict and have since been reported across Eastern Europe, South Asia, and parts of Latin America.

“These are generally not targeted attacks on civil aviation,” Careen explained. “In most cases, they are side effects of military radio-frequency operations designed to secure airspace, with civilian aircraft unintentionally affected.”

Warnings and Recommendations

IATA has advised all member airlines to ensure pilots are trained to identify GNSS interference and promptly switch to alternate navigation systems such as inertial navigation systems (INS), VOR, and DME.

Aviation safety experts have also called for enhanced monitoring, real-time alerts, and stronger coordination between civil aviation authorities and defence agencies.

Conclusion

With air traffic density increasing and geopolitical tensions expanding, GPS interference has emerged as a new invisible risk in global aviation. IATA’s warning underscores the need for preparedness rather than panic.

For India, the focus now lies in strengthening pilot training, technical safeguards, and inter-agency coordination to ensure flight safety remains uncompromised amid growing satellite signal vulnerabilities.