Volcano eruption leads Air India and Akasa Air to cancel flights

Air India and Akasa Air canceled flights on Tueday after the Hayli Gubbi volcano in Ethiopia erupted, spreading an ash cloud into Indian airspace.

The eruption, which occurred after a dormancy of over 10,000 years, forced the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to issue directives suspending affected air services. Flight operations were halted to comply with safety protocols regarding volcanic ash contamination.

Air India canceled 11 flights between Monday and Tuesday to conduct safety checks on aircraft that traversed impacted regions. Akasa Air also suspended scheduled services to Middle Eastern destinations including Jeddah, Kuwait, and Abu Dhabi.

The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) reported that the ash cloud reached altitudes of approximately 14 km and drifted toward China, with dispersal from Indian airspace expected by 19:30 on Tuesday. The cloud extended across Yemen, Oman, Pakistan, and parts of India.

A DGCA directive outlined the operational precautions for airlines, referencing international guidelines for volcanic ash events. The incident underlined the coordination between regulatory authorities and carriers in response to airspace hazards.

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