Rise in GPS spoofing and jamming incidents at major Indian airports triggers safety concerns

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has raised serious concerns over the increasing number of GPS spoofing and jamming incidents worldwide. A noticeable spike has been reported across several major Indian airports too. The global airline body said the growing interference poses a significant risk to flight navigation and pilot safety. IATA, which represents over 360 airlines, revealed that airports in Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Amritsar, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, and Chennai have witnessed multiple cases of GPS interference in recent months.

IATA Director General Willie Walsh, speaking at an industry interaction in Geneva, said, “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.” Walsh noted that the frequency of such events has become “significantly higher,” expanding well beyond conflict zones and now affecting global civil aviation routes.

What is GPS spoofing?

Modern aviation depends heavily on the Global Positioning System (GPS) or Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) for accurate positioning, routing, and altitude determination. Spoofing involves sending false navigation signals to mislead an aircraft’s onboard system.

Jamming refers to deliberate disruption of legitimate GPS signals, making navigation unreliable.

The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) classifies GNSS spoofing as a type of Radio Frequency Interference (RFI) — an emerging global safety threat that requires urgent mitigation.

India’s Civil Aviation Ministry informed Parliament this week that between November 2023 and November 2025, a total of 1,951 GPS interference cases were reported. The data collection began after the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) issued an advisory circular in November 2023, mandating airlines to report all GNSS-related disruptions.