Volcanic Ash from Ethiopia Disrupts Flights in India as Plume Reaches Delhi

A massive plume of volcanic ash from the eruption of the Hayli Gubbi volcano in Ethiopia’s Afar region has reached India’s northern skies, prompting flight cancellations and safety alerts across the country.

The volcano erupted on November 23, sending ash and sulfur-dioxide-laden clouds more than 10 km high that drifted rapidly eastward over the Red Sea, Arabian Peninsula and ultimately into Indian airspace.

The plume reached Delhi around 11 p.m. local time on Monday, and carried across states including Gujarat, Rajasthan, Haryana, Punjab and parts of Maharashtra.

India’s aviation regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), issued an immediate advisory for airlines and airports to avoid affected regions and altitudes, inspect runways for ash contamination and report any engine or cabin anomalies.

Several carriers, including Air India and Akasa Air, cancelled flights both domestically and to Middle East destinations, with Air India citing 11 cancellations over Monday and Tuesday as a precaution to assess aircraft exposed to the ash cloud.

Analysts emphasised that volcanic ash clouds contain fine glass-like particles which can impair aircraft engines, scratch cockpit windows, and contaminate fuel systems.

Although the ash has entered Indian airspace, meteorological services said the plume remained at high altitude—between 15,000-25,000 feet—and was expected to clear by Tuesday evening. As a result, it is unlikely to significantly worsen ground-level air pollution or impact daily weather conditions.

However, for aviation, the disruption is real: the ash drift forced route adjustments, cancellations and heightened monitoring. The incident serves as a reminder of how geological events far away can trigger rapid ripple effects across global transport and logistics.

Source: Reuters, BBC News