5G scare: Air India cancels 8 US flights; DGCA working to overcome situation

Team Udayavani, Jan 19, 2022, 7:30 PM IST

New Delhi: Air India canceled eight flights on India-US routes from Wednesday onwards due to the deployment of 5G internet in North America which could interfere with aircraft’s navigation systems.

Meanwhile, DGCA chief Arun Kumar told PTI that the Indian aviation regulator was working ”in close coordination with our carriers to overcome the situation” that has arisen due to 5G internet’s deployment in the US.

US aviation regulator Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) had on January 14 said that ”5G interference with the aircraft’s radio altimeter could prevent engine and braking systems from transitioning to landing mode, which could prevent an aircraft from stopping on the runway”.

An altimeter measures the height of the aircraft above the ground. The band on which altimeter works is close to that on which the 5G system works.

Total three carriers — American Airlines, Delta Airlines, and Air India — currently operate direct flights between India and the US.

American Airlines and Delta Airlines did not respond to PTI’s queries regarding this matter. Air India stated on Twitter that it won’t be operating eight India-US flights on Wednesday ”due to deployment of the 5G communications in the US”.

These eight Air India flights were: Delhi-New York, New York-Delhi, Delhi-Chicago, Chicago-Delhi, Delhi- San Francisco, San Francisco-Delhi, Delhi-Newark, and Newark-Delhi.