Volcanic Ash From Ethiopia Drifts Toward India, Airlines Issue Precautionary Alerts

Volcanic ash from Ethiopia’s Hayli Gubbi volcano is drifting toward India and is expected to enter parts of western and northern regions soon, according to IndiaMetSky Weather, as reported by ANI. The development has prompted airlines and airport authorities to issue precautionary advisories to passengers.

Several carriers, including Akasa Air, IndiGo, and KLM, cancelled select flights on Monday in response to the advancing ash plume. Airlines have reassured travellers that safety remains their top priority, and operations are being adjusted in line with international aviation guidelines.

Akasa Air stated that it is continuously monitoring the situation in accordance with global advisories. IndiGo noted that its teams are “closely tracking the situation in coordination with international aviation bodies” and remain fully prepared to implement necessary precautions. Air India confirmed that its operations have not faced any major impact so far but added that it is in constant communication with its crew and global aviation authorities.

Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport also issued a passenger advisory, noting that volcanic activity in Ethiopia has affected parts of West Asian airspace and could influence certain international flight routes.

According to the Toulouse Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre (VAAC), the eruption began around 8:30 am UTC on Sunday and has since ceased, although the ash plume continues to drift toward northern India. Aviation authorities are closely monitoring the plume’s altitude and trajectory to ensure safe flight operations.

The volcano, located in Ethiopia’s Afar region roughly 800 km northeast of Addis Ababa near the Eritrean border, erupted on Sunday for the first time in nearly 12,000 years. The eruption sent ash clouds rising up to 14 km into the atmosphere, Reuters reported, citing VAAC data.

Ash from the eruption has been carried across Yemen, Oman, India, and northern Pakistan. The Smithsonian Institution’s Global Volcanism Program confirmed that the Hayli Gubbi volcano has no known eruptions during the Holocene period, making this event particularly significant.