Kannur-Abu Dhabi flight diverted due to ash clouds from Ethiopia volcano

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Ash clouds from Ethiopia’s Hayli Gubbi volcano, which had erupted on Sunday, are now drifting toward northern India, raising aviation safety concerns, The Times of India reported on Monday.

Meteorological predictions have said that the plume could reach western India, including Jamnagar, by around 5:30 pm on Monday, before continuing toward Delhi and Jaipur later in the evening.

Aviation authorities and airlines in India are closely tracking the movement of the ash clouds and have begun modifying flight paths to avoid affected airspace.

The disruption has already impacted several operations. IndiGo flight 6E 1433 from Kannur to Abu Dhabi was diverted to Ahmedabad earlier on Monday to bypass the ash corridor, the TOI report said.

Another Indian carrier operating in Abu Dhabi has temporarily grounded one of its aircraft for precautionary engine checks before allowing it to return to India, officials said, according to the TOI report.

“We know the areas impacted by ash plumes and are taking detours to avoid flying there,” a senior official from an Indian airline told The Times of India, underscoring heightened safety protocols.

Airline responses are evolving in real time. In a statement on X, Akasa Air said:

“We are closely monitoring the volcanic activity in Ethiopia and its potential impact on flight operations in nearby regions. Our teams will continue to assess the situation in compliance with international aviation advisories and safety protocols and take necessary actions as required. At Akasa Air, passenger safety and well-being is our utmost priority.”

Industry sources say the plume has already drifted past Oman and continues to move eastward over land and water bodies. “We are closely watching the situation. The ashes are learnt to be now moved ng beyond Oman. We hope the intensity reduces as it crosses the land and ocean while heading towards Delhi and Jaipur,” the sources said.

The eruption at Hayli Gubbi volcano reportedly produced an unusually large ash column, which released a significant amount of sulfur dioxide along with fine volcanic particles. Countries along its projected path, including Yemen and Oman, have already experienced partial atmospheric impact, according to media reports.

According to experts, volcanic ash poses a serious risk to aircraft engines, visibility, and onboard systems, making avoidance the primary safety measure.

More advisories are expected through the evening as flight routes are reassessed based on the plume’s pathway.