Air India Express flight to Jammu returns to Delhi due to ‘GPS interference’

According to the live flight tracking website Flightradar24, flight IX2564, operated by an Airbus A320, took off from Delhi at 10.40 am and was scheduled to land in Jammu at 12.05 pm. However, the aircraft returned to Delhi at 11.04 am. A second flight departed Delhi at 5.02 pm and landed in Jammu at 6.08 pm, Flightradar24 stated.

Flights operating in northern India, especially Jammu and Kashmir, have been experiencing high GPS interference, a 24-hour map of GPS jamming by Flightradar24 showed.

According to Flightradar24, GPS interference can occur due to various reasons, such as electromagnetic radiation from nearby devices, intentional jamming, adverse atmospheric conditions like ionospheric disturbances, and solar activity, including flares. These sources can disrupt GPS signals, leading to inaccuracies or complete signal loss during flight operations. Such interference poses significant risks to aircraft by affecting navigation and communication systems that rely heavily on GPS for precise positioning, route planning, and situational awareness.

In a statement, an Air India Express spokesperson said: “Our Delhi-Jammu flight returned to Delhi as a precautionary measure, following a suspected GPS interference incident. Subsequently, an alternative flight was organised to connect guests to Jammu. We regret the inconvenience caused. Instances of GPS signal interference have been reported by operators while flying over certain sensitive regions.”

Flightradar24 noted that disrupted GPS signals can lead to navigation errors, incorrect altitude readings, or position inaccuracies. This can result in flight deviations, missed approaches, and in extreme cases, safety threats during critical phases such as takeoff or landing — especially under low visibility conditions.