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Ethiopian volcano eruption sends ash plume across Asia, disrupting air travel
A massive plume of volcanic ash from Ethiopia's newly awakened Hayli Gubbi volcano has swept across the Red Sea, traversed Oman and Yemen, and reached Delhi, India's Meteorological Department (IMD) confirmed Tuesday. The eruption-marking the volcano's first activity in thousands of years-began Sunday, propelling ash thousands of feet into the atmosphere and triggering widespread flight disruptions in India.
Flight cancellations and advisories
India's aviation regulator urged airlines to "strictly avoid" ash-affected zones, prompting carriers to cancel, delay, or reroute flights. Air India scrapped 11 flights, while IndiGo, Akasa Air, and KLM also reported operational impacts. Mumbai Airport advised passengers to verify flight statuses before departure.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) issued an advisory mandating pilots to report any ash encounters-including engine irregularities or cabin smoke-and to inspect aircraft operating near contaminated areas. Airlines were instructed to "suspend or delay operations to impacted airports if conditions worsen."
Ash plume's trajectory and risks
The ash cloud, hovering between 8.5 km (5.2 miles) and 15 km altitude, poses risks to satellite functions and flight safety but is unlikely to alter weather or air quality, IMD Director General Mrutyunjay Mohapatra told the BBC. "It reached northern India last night and appears headed toward China," he added. Private forecaster Skymet Weather projected Delhi's skies would clear by Tuesday evening, though dispersion timelines remain uncertain.
Volcanic ash-comprising abrasive particles-can damage aircraft engines, reduce visibility, and contaminate runways. However, contamination levels in this event are unmeasured. "Sensors require advance deployment," explained GP Sharma, Skymet's meteorology president. "This eruption offered no preparation time."
Scientific context: A dormant volcano awakens
Professor Atalay Ayele of Addis Ababa University noted the eruption's rarity, as Hayli Gubbi had been dormant for millennia. Though "unusually noisy," it triggered minimal seismic activity. The volcano lies near Erta Ale, a region known for volcanic activity.
"Supplies of real-time data are limited, but the lack of seismic precursors suggests this was a relatively contained event-though its atmospheric impact is now global."
Prof. Atalay Ayele, Addis Ababa University
Historical precedent: The 2010 Iceland disruption
The incident echoes the 2010 Eyjafjallajökull eruption in Iceland, which paralyzed European airspace for days, causing the worst travel chaos since World War II. While Hayli Gubbi's ash plume has not yet matched that scale, its rapid spread underscores the vulnerability of global aviation to volcanic activity.
Next steps
Authorities will monitor ash movement via satellite and ground sensors, with updates expected as the plume progresses toward China. Airlines continue adjusting schedules, though IMD anticipates Delhi's airspace will normalize by late Tuesday.
