After Delhi, aviation authorities have issued an alert warning pilots and air traffic controllers of possible GPS signal interference in the skies near Mumbai, amid heightened concerns over cyber threats targeting aviation systems.
The Notice to Airmen (NOTAM), valid from November 13 to 17, cautions aircraft operating within the Mumbai Flight Information Region (FIR) about potential disruptions in satellite-based navigation systems.
Pilots have been advised to exercise “utmost caution” and be prepared for possible loss or degradation of GPS signals along two key Air Traffic Service (ATS) routes — L639 and P574. “GPS signal interference/loss reported on ATS L639 and P574 in Mumbai FIR. All aircraft to exercise caution,” the NOTAM reads.
The alert follows recent incidents of suspected GPS spoofing, which disrupted air traffic operations over Delhi last week, leading to delays and diversions for nearly 36 hours. In response, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has directed all airlines, pilots, and Air Traffic Control units to report any instance of GPS signal manipulation or interference within 10 minutes of detection. The National Security Advisor’s Office, headed by Ajit Doval, is currently investigating the Delhi incident.
Experts say such interference could indicate spoofing or jamming—techniques used in cyberattacks to mislead pilots and navigation systems by transmitting false positional data. Aviation security analysts have warned that disruptions of this nature can pose serious operational and safety challenges.
The warning was first flagged publicly by Damien Symon, a geo-intelligence analyst with Intel Lab, who noted on X (formerly Twitter) that India’s NOTAM followed “reports of similar interference observed around New Delhi.”
In a separate development, Air India’s Toronto–Delhi flight (AI188) received a bomb threat while en route to the capital on Thursday. The airline later confirmed that the threat was a hoax.
“The on-board crew carried out all laid-down security drills, keeping passenger safety as the top priority. The flight landed safely at Delhi and underwent mandatory security checks as per protocol,” an Air India spokesperson said. All passengers and crew disembarked safely following the inspection.
