A plume of volcanic ash from Ethiopia’s Hayli Gubbi volcano has reached Delhi, disrupting flight operations across India. The volcano, reportedly dormant for several thousand years, erupted on Sunday morning, sending an ash column thousands of feet into the atmosphere.
The ash traveled across the Red Sea, Oman, and Yemen before reaching northern India. Several international and domestic flights have been canceled, delayed, or rerouted. India’s aviation regulator has instructed airlines to “strictly avoid” affected areas.
Volcanic ash consists of tiny, abrasive particles that can damage aircraft engines, contaminate airfields, and reduce visibility, posing a hazard to aviation. According to Mrutyunjay Mohapatra, Director General of the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the ash is currently between 8.5 km (5.2 miles) and 15 km above sea level and is unlikely to affect air quality or weather conditions in Delhi.
IMD estimates that skies over Delhi should clear by Tuesday evening, though predicting the ash’s dispersal is challenging. Skymet Weather, a private agency, noted that the eruption provided no time for sensor deployment, so the exact contamination level remains unknown.
Several airlines have reported disruptions: Air India canceled 11 flights, while IndiGo, Akasa Air, and KLM were also affected. IndiGo confirmed it is tracking the situation “in coordination with international aviation bodies.” Mumbai Airport urged passengers to verify flight status before traveling.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation has issued guidelines for pilots, instructing them to report any ash encounters, including engine anomalies or cabin smoke, and to inspect aircraft operating near affected zones. Operations may be suspended or delayed if conditions worsen.
Volcanic ash clouds are rare but can have major impacts. In 2010, the eruption of Iceland’s Eyjafjallajökull volcano caused widespread disruption across Europe, closing airspace and creating the worst travel chaos since World War II.
