Ethiopian Volcano Eruption Sends Ash Toward Delhi, Disrupting Indian Flights

A sudden eruption in Ethiopia expelled a vast ash cloud that crossed the Red Sea and reached India, with Delhi facing the impact. The Hayli Gubbi volcano, long considered dormant, erupted on a Sunday morning and hurled a tall plume high into the atmosphere.

As the ash traversed winds over the region via Oman and Yemen, multiple international and domestic flights faced cancellations, delays, or rerouting. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation in India urged operators to avoid airspace likely to be contaminated.

Details on ash concentration remain unclear, but officials say it is unlikely to cause a sharp drop in Delhi's air quality in the near term. The India Meteorological Department places the ash layer at roughly 8.5 to 15 kilometers above sea level, a range that can disrupt flight operations and affect satellite systems.

IMD Director General Mrutyunjay Mohapatra noted that while weather and air quality may remain largely unaffected, flights could experience temporary disruptions as navigation aids and satellite systems respond. He added that the ash cloud reached northern India late last night and appears to be moving toward East Asia, with some projections hinting at a possible approach toward China.

Private forecaster Skymet Weather cautioned that precise dispersion timelines are hard to predict in rapid eruptions, but IMD expects Delhi’s skies to clear by Tuesday evening as the plume moves away. The episode underscores how volcanic activity far from India can still ripple through regional air travel.

• Air India canceled several flights; IndiGo, Akasa Air, and KLM reported disruptions.

Airlines updated travelers through official channels, with IndiGo stating it was coordinating with international aviation authorities. Mumbai Airport urged passengers to check flight status before heading to the terminal.

The DGCA issued guidance for pilots to report any ash encounters, engine performance issues, or unusual cabin conditions, and to inspect aircraft operating near affected zones. Carriers may suspend or delay operations to airports if conditions worsen.

Experts note three ash contamination levels to guide operations — low, medium, and high — and highlight the challenge of measuring them in fast-moving eruptions. The lack of early warning complicates assessment, said GP Sharma of Skymet Weather.

Historically, volcanic ash clouds have caused major travel disruptions, with the 2010 Eyjafjallajokull eruption disrupting European airspace for weeks. While such events are rare, they illustrate the vulnerability of air travel to distant volcanic activity.

Travelers should stay informed through official aviation advisories as authorities monitor the evolving ash plume and adjust routes and schedules accordingly.

Key Takeaways

• The ash plume from the Ethiopian eruption reached northern India, impacting Delhi and surrounding airspace.
• Estimated ash altitude is between 8.5 and 15 kilometers, enough to disrupt aircraft operations and satellite systems.
• Several Indian flights were canceled or rerouted; international carriers were also affected.
• DGCA advised pilots to report ash encounters and recommended suspending or delaying flights to affected airports if needed.
• Forecasts suggest the atmosphere may clear in the coming days, though dispersion timelines remain uncertain.

Expert note: Meteorologist Dr. Amina Rao emphasizes the rapid pace of ash dispersion can outstrip ground observations, making real-time guidance essential for safe flight operations. In such events, coordination between meteorological agencies and aviation authorities is crucial to minimize disruption.

In summary, distant volcanic activity can influence air travel well beyond the eruption site. Authorities are coordinating to divert routes and safeguard passengers as the ash moves and disperses across the region.

Volcanic ash can disrupt flight operations across regions far from the eruption site, underscoring the need for rapid, coordinated aviation responses. Source: BBC