No cause of concern, flight operations continue smoothly: Civil Aviation ministry amid Ethiopia ash cloud scare

AAI has already issued the required NOTAM, and all affected flights have been informed in real time, the ministry said.

The Civil Aviation ministry on Tuesday assured that flight operations across India continue smoothly and there is no cause of concern after a thick cloud of ash from the Hayli Gubbi volcanic eruption in Ethiopia drifted towards India.

The eruption of the Hayli Gubbi volcano in Ethiopia - which was dormant for several thousand years - began on Sunday morning, sending an ash column thousands of feet into the atmosphere.

A plume of volcanic ash from Ethiopia has swept across the Red Sea through Oman and Yemen and reached Delhi, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said in a statement.

"Following the 23 Nov volcanic eruption in Ethiopia and the eastward movement of the ash cloud, MoCA—along with ATC, IMD, airlines and international aviation agencies—is ensuring seamless coordination, a statement from Civil Aviation ministry read.

"AAI has issued the necessary NOTAM and all affected flights have been kept informed. Operations across India remain smooth, with only a few flights rerouted or descended as a precaution. There is no cause for concern at this moment. We continue to monitor the situation closely and will provide timely updates to ensure passenger safety," further read the statement.

Following the 23 Nov volcanic eruption in Ethiopia and the eastward movement of the ash cloud, MoCA—along with ATC, IMD, airlines and international aviation agencies—is ensuring seamless coordination.
AAI has issued the necessary NOTAM and all affected flights have been kept…

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— MoCA_GoI (@MoCA_GoI) November 25, 2025

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation had issued an advisory to flight operators asking pilots to immediately report any suspected ash encounter, including engine performance anomalies or cabin smoke or odour.