Several Flights Cancelled As Ash From Ethiopian Volcano Drifts Towards India

Several Indian airlines, including IndiGo and Akasa Air, have cancelled flights and airports issued an advisory over possible disruptions due to an ash plume from the volcanic activity in Ethiopia on Monday.

The plume, reportedly travelling at nearly 100–120 km/hour, is now moving over northern India.Ethopia's Hayli Gubbi volcano erupted for the first time in nearly 12,000 years on Sunday, sending thick ash plumes across the Red Sea toward Yemen and Oman.The ash cloud's dense, experts said, could plummet the already severe air quality in Delhi and its neighbouring areas.The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has directed airlines to avoid ash-affected areas, adjust flight planning, routing, and fuel considerations based on the latest advisories.Airlines have also been instructed to immediately report any suspected ash encounter, including engine performance anomalies or cabin smoke or odour.If volcanic ash affects airport operations, then the operator concerned must immediately inspect runways, taxiways, and aprons, the DGCA said.Akasa Air cancelled its flights to and from Jeddah, Kuwait, and Abu Dhabi scheduled for November 24 and 25 due to the ash plume.

KLM Royal Dutch Airlines said it cancelled its Amsterdam-Delhi service (KL 871) and the return Delhi-Amsterdam flight (KL 872).According to reports, Hayli Gubbi volcano eruption caused moderate tremors in areas around Erta Ale and Afdera town in Ethopia. The volcano is located about nine miles (15 kilometres) southeast of the active Erta Ale volcano.