Aviation ministry says it is ensuring "seamless coordination" amid Ethiopia volcanic ash cloud scare

The Indian Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) is actively coordinating with various agencies, including Air Traffic Control (ATC), the India Meteorological Department (IMD), airlines, and international aviation bodies, to manage the impact of an ash cloud originating from a volcanic eruption in Ethiopia. This coordinated effort follows the November 23 eruption of the Hayli Gubbi volcano, which sent an ash plume eastward, affecting airspace over parts of India and prompting precautionary measures.

As a direct consequence of the ash cloud, seven international flights scheduled between 1 am and 6 pm on Tuesday were cancelled, and an additional twelve international flights experienced delays. These disruptions impacted both incoming and outgoing services, with airlines adjusting their operations based on ongoing safety assessments. The Airports Authority of India (AAI) issued the necessary NOTAMs (Notices to Airmen) to keep all affected flights informed, ensuring passenger safety remained the top priority.

The ash plume, which initially entered Gujarat on Monday, subsequently spread across regions including Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Delhi-NCR, Haryana, and Punjab. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast that the ash clouds are likely to clear India's skies by 7:30 pm on Tuesday, signaling an expected end to the disturbances. The Toulouse Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre (VAAC) reported that the explosive phase of the Hayli Gubbi eruption, its first significant activity in nearly 10,000 years, generated a large ash plume rising as high as 14 km, moving towards northern India.