New Delhi, 4 December (H.S.): The GPS-based landing disruptions on Runway 10 at Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGI) are not mere technical faults but deliberate cyber attacks, Civil Aviation Minister of State Murli Dhar Mohol informed Parliament on Thursday.

Describing the incidents as a serious threat to aviation safety, he underscored that the government is actively addressing this emerging challenge.Responding to a question in the Lok Sabha, the Minister explained that several flights experienced spoofed GPS signals during landing procedures, which involved attackers transmitting false signals to deceive an aircraft’s navigation system.

This led to erroneous positioning and misleading warnings on the flight instruments. However, affected flights promptly invoked emergency protocols and ensured safe landings.

Mohol highlighted that the issue has taken on a global dimension, particularly affecting conflict zones worldwide. To combat this, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) issued an advisory circular on November 24, 2023, addressing Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) interference concerns in airspace.

Further, a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) was established on November 10 for immediate reporting of GPS spoofing incidents around IGI Airport.Additionally, the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and International Air Transport Association (IATA) have developed comprehensive frameworks for spoofing risk assessment and mitigation.

The government has ordered a thorough investigation into the matter. The Airports Authority of India (AAI) has directed the Wireless Monitoring Organisation (WMO) to trace the source of the interference and allocated additional resources to aid this effort.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar