New Delhi: Several flights were cancelled on Monday as Indian airlines were advised to take precautions due to a volcanic ash plume from Ethiopia moving over northern India. The Hayli Gubbi volcano, which erupted on Sunday for the first time in nearly 12,000 years, sent dense ash clouds across the Red Sea toward Yemen and Oman. The plume is now extending over the northern Arabian Sea and approaching Delhi, Haryana, and adjoining Uttar Pradesh.

Flight cancellations and airline responses

Airlines including Akasa Air, IndiGo, and KLM cancelled multiple flights due to the ash plume.

  • Akasa Air announced that flights to and from Jeddah, Kuwait, and Abu Dhabi scheduled for November 24 and 25 were cancelled.
  • KLM Royal Dutch Airlines suspended its Amsterdam-Delhi (KL 871) and return Delhi-Amsterdam (KL 872) services.
  • IndiGo, via X, reassured passengers that safety remains a priority, adding that the ash clouds from the eruption could affect parts of western India.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has issued instructions for airlines to avoid ash-affected areas, adjust flight planning, routing, and fuel considerations, and report any suspected ash encounters, including engine anomalies or cabin smoke.

Airport operations and monitoring

The DGCA also instructed airport operators to inspect runways, taxiways, and aprons immediately if volcanic ash affects operations. Airlines and airports are advised to continuously monitor the situation using satellite imagery and meteorological updates.

The ash plume could potentially affect air quality in northern India, although the chances are currently low since the clouds are thousands of feet above the surface.

About the Hayli Gubbi eruption

The Hayli Gubbi volcano, located in Ethiopia’s Afar region, erupted on Sunday morning, covering the nearby village of Afdera in volcanic dust. Moderate tremors were reported in surrounding areas, including Erta Ale and Afdera town. The volcano lies about 15 km southeast of the active Erta Ale volcano.

The eruption marks the first activity in nearly 12,000 years, raising global concerns about air traffic disruption in the region and beyond.