Air India cancels multiple flights amid Ethiopian volcanic ash cloud

Air India has initiated widespread flight cancellations following the rapid spread of a volcanic ash cloud originating from Ethiopia's Hayli Gubbi volcano. The airline implemented precautionary checks on aircraft that had traversed regions affected by the ash, which has now disrupted airspace across several countries, including significant portions of India. This unprecedented event marks the first eruption of the Hayli Gubbi volcano in nearly 12,000 years, posing a substantial challenge to civil aviation safety and operational continuity.

The ash plume, propelled by winds reaching speeds of 100-120 km/h, traveled thousands of kilometers from Ethiopia's Afar region. Its trajectory carried it over the Red Sea, impacting airspace near Yemen and Oman, before crossing the Arabian Sea into India's Gujarat state. From there, the atmospheric disturbance continued its eastward drift, affecting Rajasthan, Delhi, Haryana, and Punjab. The presence of the ash layer over Delhi, a major international hub, began impacting international operations to the Middle East, Europe, and parts of Asia late last night.

Airlines globally maintain stringent protocols for volcanic ash encounters due to the severe threat ash particles pose to jet engines and aircraft systems. The decision by Air India to cancel multiple flights underscores the immediate safety concerns and the necessity for thorough inspections to prevent potential engine damage or operational failures. The ongoing disruption highlights the vulnerability of global air travel to natural phenomena, necessitating continuous monitoring and adaptive operational strategies from airlines and air traffic control authorities across affected regions.