Volcanic Ash from Ethiopia Disrupts Flights in India and Pakistan

Volcanic Ash from Ethiopia Disrupts Flights in India and Pakistan
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Ash clouds from a rare volcanic eruption in Ethiopia drifted over parts of Pakistan and northern India on Tuesday, prompting precautionary flight cancellations, Reuters reported. The Hayli Gubbi volcano in Ethiopia’s Afar region erupted on Sunday for the first time on record, sending ash up to 14 kilometers into the atmosphere.

According to Flightradar24, the ash plume traveled across Yemen and Oman before reaching South Asia and continued moving toward China. Air India cancelled 11 flights on Monday and Tuesday to conduct safety inspections on aircraft that had flown over affected areas, following guidance from India’s aviation regulator.

Akasa Air also suspended services to several Middle Eastern destinations, including Jeddah, Kuwait and Abu Dhabi. India’s Ministry of Civil Aviation said only limited rerouting was required and that advisories had been issued to impacted aircraft. Ethiopia, home to roughly 50 active volcanoes, is prone to sudden geological activity, seismologists noted.