Indian airlines Air India and Akasa Air have cancelled multiple flights after a volcanic eruption in Ethiopia released massive ash plumes, disrupting air travel across Asia and the Middle East.
According to Air India, 11 flights scheduled for Monday and Tuesday were cancelled to allow for precautionary aircraft inspections. The move follows a safety directive issued by India’s aviation regulator for all airlines operating in the affected airspace.
Akasa Air also halted several international flights, particularly routes to Jeddah, Kuwait, and Abu Dhabi, citing ash-related safety risks.
Government: Only Limited Rerouting Needed
India’s Ministry of Civil Aviation stated that only a small number of flights were rerouted as a precaution. The Airports Authority of India also issued official advisories to aircraft in potentially impacted areas.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) confirmed that the ash cloud is moving toward China and is expected to clear Indian airspace by 1400 GMT on Tuesday.
Volcanic Ash Spreads Across Multiple Countries
The eruption of Ethiopia’s Hayli Gubbi volcano — its first ever recorded eruption — sent ash plumes reaching up to 14 km (8.7 miles) into the atmosphere. By Tuesday, the ash cloud had drifted across Yemen and Oman, spreading over parts of Pakistan and northern India, according to Flightradar24 tracking data.
Airlines continue to monitor the situation closely, as volcanic ash poses serious risks to aircraft engines and navigation systems.
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