Key Takeaways
- Ethiopia’s Hayli Gubbi volcano erupted for the first time in 12,000 years
- Massive ash cloud drifting over northern India at high altitudes
- Multiple airlines cancel flights, DGCA issues aviation advisory
- Ash plume moving at 100-120 km/h, affecting Delhi, Gujarat, Rajasthan regions
A volcanic ash cloud from Ethiopia’s Hayli Gubbi volcano eruption is now impacting northern India, forcing flight cancellations and aviation alerts. The volcano erupted on Sunday for the first time in nearly 12,000 years, sending massive ash plumes across the Arabian Sea toward the Indian subcontinent.
Ash Cloud Movement and Composition
According to IndiaMetSky Weather, the ash is traveling at 100-120 km/h between 15,000-45,000 feet altitude. The plume contains volcanic ash, sulphur dioxide, and fine glass and rock particles.
“Ash cloud is about to enter Gujarat (west side) and move towards Rajasthan, northwest Maharashtra, Delhi, Haryana, and Punjab by 10 pm, and later it will impact the Himalayas and other regions,” IndiaMetSky Weather said.
The agency added that the large ash plume will make the sky appear darker and significantly impact air traffic operations.
Flight Disruptions and Airline Response
Several major airlines have cancelled flights due to the volcanic ash threat:
- Akasa Air: Cancelled flights to/from Jeddah, Kuwait, and Abu Dhabi on November 24-25
- KLM: Cancelled Amsterdam-Delhi (KL 871) and Delhi-Amsterdam (KL 872) services
- IndiGo: Issued safety advisory, monitoring ash cloud movement
IndiGo stated on X: “Following the recent eruption of the #HayliGubbi volcano in #Ethiopia, ash clouds are reported to be drifting towards parts of western India. Your safety remains our highest priority.”
DGCA Aviation Advisory
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation issued comprehensive guidelines for airlines and airports:
- Avoid ash-affected regions in flight planning and routing
- Adjust fuel calculations based on volcanic ash updates
- Immediately report any suspected ash encounters
- Monitor for engine performance anomalies, cabin odour, or smoke
- Conduct urgent runway, taxiway, and apron inspections if ashfall occurs
The DGCA directed airport operators to continuously track the situation using satellite imagery and meteorological data.
Volcano Background and Current Status
The Hayli Gubbi volcano, located in Ethiopia’s Afar region approximately 15 kilometers southeast of the active Erta Ale volcano, erupted on Sunday morning. The eruption covered the nearby village of Afdera in dust and triggered moderate tremors around Erta Ale and Afdera town.
The Toulouse Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre confirmed the eruption began at 8:30 am UTC and has since ceased, though the large ash plume continues moving toward northern India. Meteorological agencies and airlines maintain continuous monitoring of the ash cloud’s trajectory to ensure regional air safety.
