Ethiopia volcano eruption live updates: Aviation Ministry allays concerns over volcanic ash cloud

Ash clouds from volcanic eruption in Ethiopia reached parts of India on Tuesday affecting flight operations but it had no impact on the weather or air quality, according to government agencies. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the ash plumes are drifting towards China, PTI reported.

The Hayli Gubbi volcano in the Afar region of Ethiopia erupted on Sunday morning, leaving the neighboring village of Afdera covered in dust.

The volcanic eruption sent ash plumes across the Red Sea toward Yemen and Oman.

The Afar region is prone to earthquakes and a resident, Ahmed Abdela, said he heard a loud sound and what he described as a shock wave. “It felt like a sudden bomb had been thrown with smoke and ash,” he said, AP reported.

The civil aviation ministry, along with the air traffic control India Meteorological Department (IMD), are closely monitoring the situation of ash plumes from the volcanic eruption in Ethiopia impacting flight operations.

Some flights have been cancelled and many have been delayed due to the ash plumes.

The ministry said there is no cause for concern at the moment and that the situation is being monitored closely. (PTI)

Experts noted that ash clouds from Ethiopia's Hayli Gubbi volcanic eruption have reached parts of India, affecting aviation but not local weather or air quality, as authorities continued to monitor conditions in the upper atmosphere.

Mrutyunjay Mohapatra, Director General of Meteorology at the India Meteorological Department (IMD), said the impact remained limited to higher levels. "The impact of this volcanic ash is being seen only in the upper troposphere, and it is affecting the flight operations. It has no impact on air quality and weather. Our estimate is that this volcanic ash will completely move towards China by evening," he said.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has reported that the volcanic ash plume from Ethiopia’s Hayli Gubbi volcano is traveling towards eastern India at speeds of 100–150 kmph. IMD Director General of Meteorology, Mrutyunjay Mohapatra, said the plume’s fast movement is being closely monitored to assess any potential impact on air quality and aviation safety in the region.

Seven international flights were cancelled and twelve others delayed on Tuesday as volcanic ash from Ethiopia’s Hayli Gubbi volcano affected airspace conditions. Airlines adjusted both incoming and outgoing services to ensure passenger safety amid the ongoing ash-related disruptions.

The eruption of Ethiopia’s Hayli Gubbi volcano has triggered flight delays and cancellations over the Red Sea and Arabian Peninsula, with Akasa Air suspending international flights to Jeddah, Kuwait, and Abu Dhabi. Experts warn that ash and sulfur dioxide have affected air quality in Yemen and Oman, though authorities say no major health risks have been reported.

The Hayli Gubbi volcano in Ethiopia erupted for the first time in nearly 12,000 years, sending ash plumes up to 15 km into the sky. Strong east-to-west winds and the subtropical jet stream carried the ash across the Red Sea, Oman, and the Arabian Sea, eventually reaching northwest India, including Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra, and parts of Uttar Pradesh. The high-altitude plume caused hazy skies and minor visibility issues, but experts say it poses no major risk at ground level. (Read more)

Ash plumes from Ethiopia’s Hayli Gubbi volcano, rising over 10 km, are drifting toward China, keeping the impact on Delhi and North India short-lived with minimal effect on air quality.

The eruption of Ethiopia’s Hayli Gubbi volcano has released volcanic ash and gases, including sulphur dioxide, posing potential health risks. Experts caution that inhaling fine ash or volcanic smog can irritate the lungs, aggravate asthma and bronchitis, and trigger other respiratory problems. Authorities urge residents in affected areas to take precautions, such as wearing masks and limiting outdoor exposure.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has issued an advisory instructing airlines to immediately report any suspected encounters with volcanic ash over parts of North India. Airlines must notify authorities of incidents such as engine performance issues or unusual cabin smoke or odor linked to ash exposure.

In addition, operators have been directed to inspect airport runways, taxiways, and aprons to ensure operational safety if volcanic ash affects flight conditions. The advisory aims to mitigate risks to aircraft and passengers while maintaining safe airport operations amid drifting ash clouds from Ethiopia’s Hayli Gubbi volcano.

Akasa Air has cancelled several flights to Middle East destinations, including Jeddah, Kuwait, and Abu Dhabi, on November 24 and 25, Reuters reported. The airline cited precautionary measures amid disruptions caused by the volcanic ash plume from Ethiopia’s Hayli Gubbi eruption.

Ethiopia’s long-dormant Hayli Gubbi volcano in the Afar region erupted over the weekend for the first time in nearly 12,000 years, sending ash and smoke up to 14 km into the sky. Residents described the eruption as explosive, with one witness saying, “It felt like a sudden bomb had been thrown with smoke and ash.” (Read more)

The volcanic ash cloud from Ethiopia’s Hayli Gubbi volcano has safely moved away from Northern India and is now dispersing into the upper atmosphere over China and the Pacific, ending previous flight disruptions.

The ash plume from Ethiopia’s Hayli Gubbi volcano is gradually moving away from North India and dispersing into the upper atmosphere. IndiaMetSky Weather reported that finer volcanic dust will remain aloft for several days, drifting towards China and eventually the Pacific along the Subtropical Jetstream.

Ethiopia’s Hayli Gubbi eruption sent fine ash and sulphur dioxide across the Red Sea into India, potentially impacting air quality and aviation.

Delhi remained engulfed in a thick layer of smog on Tuesday, with air quality stuck in the ‘very poor’ to ‘severe’ range. Adding to the pollution concerns, volcanic ash from Ethiopia’s Hayli Gubbi eruption has now drifted into Indian airspace.

Meteorologists say the plume, mostly sulphur dioxide with low to moderate ash, is travelling at high altitudes, limiting its direct surface impact. However, SO₂ levels may rise over the Himalayas and the Terai region of Uttar Pradesh as the cloud moves eastward. The IMD has noted that the ash will appear as hazy skies and could slightly raise temperatures while posing challenges mainly for aviation. (Read more)

Air India announced cancellations of multiple international and domestic flights on November 24 and 25, as a precautionary measure following the Hayli Gubbi volcanic eruption in Ethiopia. The airline stated that aircraft operating on certain routes had flown over affected regions and required detailed safety inspections.

Cancelled Flights: 24 November

AI 106 – Newark–Delhi

AI 102 – New York (JFK)–Delhi

AI 2204 – Dubai–Hyderabad

AI 2290 – Doha–Mumbai

AI 2212 – Dubai–Chennai

AI 2250 – Dammam–Mumbai

AI 2284 – Doha–Delhi

25 November

AI 2822 – Chennai–Mumbai

AI 2466 – Hyderabad–Delhi

AI 2444 / AI 2445 – Mumbai–Hyderabad–Mumbai

AI 2471 / AI 2472 – Mumbai–Kolkata–Mumbai

Air India said the move was taken in the interest of passenger safety and further updates will be provided as inspections progress. (Read more)

The volcanic ash cloud from the eruption in Ethiopia’s Afar region is expected to move away from India by Tuesday evening, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD). It is projected to clear Indian skies by 14:00 GMT (7:30 pm local time), with the plume drifting further east towards China.

The cloud, which reached Delhi around 11 pm on Monday, travelled across the Red Sea and the Middle East before entering India and causing flight schedule disruptions. IMD’s Met Watch offices have been continuously monitoring its movement. There are concerns about pollution levels in Delhi and north India, but experts have indicated that the ash impact will be minimal.

After Ethiopia’s Hayli Gubbi volcano erupted for the first time in nearly 10,000 years, the resulting ash cloud has triggered aviation advisories across India. The plume, moving swiftly at high altitudes, entered Gujarat before drifting over Rajasthan, Delhi, Haryana and Punjab, prompting heightened airport vigilance.

Multiple airlines, including IndiGo, Akasa Air and KLM, have cancelled or altered flights as the situation continues to be monitored, ANI reported. Earlier, the DGCA advised carriers to avoid specific air routes and altitudes, while airports were instructed to check runways for possible ash contamination.

A volcanic ash plume from the Oman–Arabian Sea region has entered India and will continue drifting over Delhi, Haryana and Rajasthan in the coming hours, according to IndiaMetSky Weather. The cloud, mainly containing sulphur dioxide and moderate ash, is not expected to impact air quality levels in major cities but may raise sulphur dioxide concentrations in the Himalayas and adjoining Terai region of Uttar Pradesh.