Thick plumes of ash and smoke that were sent high into the sky from volcanic eruption in Ethiopia’s Afar region forced Indian carriers to suspend flights for safety checks, India’s aviation regulator has announced.
India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation Issued an advisory on Monday, warning airlines to avoid attitudes and regions affected by volcanic ash from Ethiopia’s Hayli Gubbi eruption.
Airports are inspecting runways for contamination, with flight disruptions anticipated as ash plumes move eastward towards Delhi and Jaipur.
The eruption in the Afar region produced ash columns rising up to fourteen kilometres, according to satellite assessments from the Toulouse Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre.
Scientists described the event as the volcano’s first known eruption in recorded history, marking a rare geological occurrence in the Erta Ale volcanic range.
The ash plume carried significant sulphur dioxide and drifted eastward, passing over the Red Sea, Yemen, Oman, and eventually northern India and parts of Pakistan.
By Tuesday, aviation monitors observed the ash extending into northern India and parts of Pakistan. India’s meteorological agency said the conditions over its territory were expected to improve by 2:00pm GMT.
Data from Flightradar24 showed the plume’s progression across multiple air corridors used by commercial airlines.
Air India in a statement said it grounded eleven flights on Monday and Tuesday to allow detailed inspections of aircraft that had operated near the affected airspace.
MG/as/APA