Indian Flight Diverted as Volcanic Ash from Ethiopia Disrupts Air Travel
An Abu Dhabi-bound IndiGo flight was forced to land in Ahmedabad after a dormant volcano erupted in Ethiopia.
A flight travelling from India to the UAE was diverted on Monday, November 24, due to thick ash clouds caused by a volcanic eruption in Ethiopia.
The IndiGo flight, which took off from Kannur and was heading to Abu Dhabi, could not continue its journey. instead, it was diverted to Ahmedabad, Gujarat, where it landed safely. According to a statement by the airline, arrangements are being made to return the passengers to Kannur.
A Rare Eruption The disruption was caused by the Hayli Gubbi volcano in Ethiopia’s northeastern region. This volcano had been dormant (inactive) for nearly 12,000 years. On Sunday, it erupted for the first time since the last Ice Age, shooting smoke and ash up to 14 kilometres into the sky.
Strong winds carried these ash clouds across Yemen, Oman, India, and parts of northern Pakistan, creating visibility issues for aircraft.
Airlines on High Alert Aviation authorities and airlines are closely monitoring the situation. Indian media reports state that officials are specifically watching the airspace over Delhi and Jaipur for any impact.
Akasa Air, a low-cost carrier, also released a statement regarding the situation.
“Our teams will continue to assess the situation in compliance with international aviation advisories and safety protocols. At Akasa Air, passenger safety and wellbeing is our utmost priority.”
Regional Impact The Hayli Gubbi volcano is located about 800 kilometres from the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa. While the eruption was significant, authorities in Oman stated that monitoring stations have not yet detected a rise in pollution levels, though they have issued an advisory regarding potential ash emissions.
