GPS Spoofing Near Delhi Airport

GPS Spoofing Near Delhi Airport

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation has issued a new safety directive after multiple flights reported suspicious GPS behaviour near Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport. Airlines, pilots and air traffic control units must now report any GPS spoofing or navigation anomaly within 10 minutes of detection.

This quick reporting rule marks one of the strongest responses from India’s aviation regulator to protect aircraft from cyber interference and navigation attacks.

What Triggered This Urgent Directive

Over the past few weeks, several aircraft flying near Delhi experienced unusual GNSS behaviour. Pilots reported off-route indications, sudden changes in GPS position and loss of signal integrity. These signs matched classic GPS spoofing attempts.

Even though aviation bodies had been asked to report GPS issues earlier, this is the first time the DGCA has placed a strict timeline. According to media reports, the decision came after repeated incidents around Delhi and growing concerns about cyber interference with flight navigation systems.

What the New DGCA Rule Requires

As per the circular, the following events must be reported immediately and within 10 minutes:

• Any sudden change in aircraft position shown on GNSS
• Suspicious loss of satellite signals
• Any false or misleading navigation data that can indicate spoofing
• Any case where pilots need to switch to ground-based navigation due to GNSS failure

This reporting applies to pilots, air traffic controllers, airline operators and all supporting engineering or technical teams involved in flight navigation.

Why GPS Spoofing Is a Serious Aviation Threat

Modern aircraft rely heavily on GNSS for navigation, aircraft positioning, landing procedures and timing. If a spoofed signal imitates real satellite data and tricks the aircraft systems, the aircraft may display a false location or navigation path.

GPS spoofing is more dangerous than simple jamming. Jamming blocks the signal. Spoofing manipulates it. This can lead to:

• Aircraft drifting off the intended flight path
• Increased pilot workload and confusion
• Sudden discontinuation of approach procedures
• Potential go-arounds or diversions
• Extra load on ATC systems and ground navigation aids

Although commercial aircraft are built with multiple fallback layers, the incidents near Delhi show how cyber and physical threats are merging inside aviation.

What This Means for Aviation Security in India

The DGCA’s move reflects a larger shift in Indian aviation. Navigation aids and satellite-based systems are now treated as potential cyber attack surfaces. Rapid reporting is needed so authorities can:

• Detect patterns early
• Correlate GPS issues with possible external interference
• Alert other flights instantly
• Improve situational awareness at the national level
• Build long term data on spoofing attempts

It also prepares India for global aviation security standards that increasingly emphasise cyber-physical risk management.

How Terra System Labs Can Support Aviation Cybersecurity

Terra System Labs already provides advanced VAPT, cloud and API security, red teaming, SCADA and OT security assessments. The rise of aviation cyber threats opens new collaboration areas.

1. GNSS and Navigation Security Assessments

• Threat modelling for GPS spoofing, jamming and signal manipulation for aviation operators, logistics companies and airport systems.
• Review of dependencies on GNSS for navigation and timing.

2. Cyber-Physical Red Team Scenarios

• Simulated attack chains that test how technical teams respond to navigation anomalies.
• Validation of incident response playbooks for spoofing and interference incidents.

3. Monitoring and Incident Preparedness Consulting

• Building rapid reporting pipelines that meet DGCA’s 10 minute rule.
• Reviewing resilience of ground systems and infrastructure that depend on satellite timing.

4. Aviation Cyber Awareness Training

• Training programmes for technical and operation teams.
• Real case studies on GNSS spoofing, airspace interference and sensor manipulation.

5. Compliance and Risk Advisory

• Strengthening documentation, dashboards, logs and incident workflows that support regulatory audits.
• Aligning policies with evolving aviation and cybersecurity regulations.

Final Thoughts

The GPS spoofing alerts near Delhi are a wake up call for the aviation sector. They show that cyber interference is no longer limited to computer networks. It can directly affect aircraft navigation and pilot decision making.

The DGCA’s 10 minute reporting rule is a strong step toward protecting India’s airspace. For organisations, airports and airlines, this is the right time to strengthen monitoring, train teams and work with cybersecurity partners to stay ahead of emerging threats.

Terra System Labs is ready to support aviation and critical infrastructure stakeholders with practical, real-world cybersecurity services that bridge the gap between cyber and physical safety.