Abu Dhabi-bound IndiGo among flights diverted after Hayli Gubbi volcano in Ethiopia erupts after more than 12,000 years

Ethiopia's Hayli Gubbi volcano, dormant for over 12,000 years, erupted on Sunday morning, triggering immediate disruptions for commercial aviation across a wide region. An IndiGo Airlines flight, 6E 1433, en route from Kerala's Kannur to Abu Dhabi, was among the first affected, forced to divert to Ahmedabad, India, due to volcanic ash. Other carriers, including Akasa Air and KLM, also reported flight cancellations as the ash plume posed a significant hazard to air traffic.

The eruption of the Hayli Gubbi volcano, located in Ethiopia's Afar region, sent ash plumes soaring up to 14 kilometers (45,000 feet) into the atmosphere. This unprecedented event, marking the volcano's first known eruption in millennia, spread ash across the Red Sea towards Yemen, Oman, India, and northern Pakistan. The Smithsonian Institution’s Global Volcanism Program had no record of Holocene eruptions for Hayli Gubbi, underscoring the unexpected nature of this geological activity.

Aviation authorities swiftly responded to the developing situation. The Toulouse Volcanic Ash Advisory Center in France and the US Volcanic Ash Advisory Center actively monitored the ash cloud's trajectory and issued advisories, guiding airlines on safe flight paths. While no casualties were reported on the ground, the economic implications for local communities, particularly livestock herders, are a concern, with villages covered in ash.

The incident highlights the persistent and unpredictable challenges natural phenomena present to global civil aviation. Airlines and air traffic control centers must maintain vigilance and adapt rapidly to ensure passenger safety and operational continuity when faced with such rare, high-impact events. The long-term monitoring of Hayli Gubbi's activity remains crucial for future flight planning in the affected airspace.