A plume of volcanic ash from Ethiopia has swept across the Red Sea, traversing Oman and Yemen, and has now reached Delhi, the capital of India. The eruption of the Hayli Gubbi volcano, which had been dormant for several thousand years, began on Sunday morning, sending a towering column of ash thousands of feet into the atmosphere.
The impact on aviation has been significant, with several international and domestic flights in India being cancelled, delayed, or rerouted. The country’s aviation regulator has issued a directive urging airlines to “strictly avoid” the affected areas. Despite the disruption, experts have indicated that the ash is unlikely to further degrade Delhi’s air quality, which was already rated as “very poor” according to official readings on Tuesday.
Understanding Volcanic Ash and Its Impact
Volcanic ash consists of tiny, abrasive particles released into the atmosphere during an eruption. These particles pose a significant hazard to flight operations as they can damage aircraft engines, contaminate airfields, and reduce visibility. According to Mrutyunjay Mohapatra, Director General of the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the affected altitude is between 8.5 km (5.2 miles) and 15 km above sea level.
“It will temporarily affect satellite functions and flight operations. But it is unlikely to affect weather conditions or air quality. It reached northern India last night and seems to be headed towards China,” Mr Mohapatra stated.
Skymet Weather, a private meteorological agency, has noted the difficulty in predicting the duration for which the ash will linger. However, the IMD estimates that the skies over Delhi should clear by Tuesday evening.
Flight Disruptions and Safety Measures
The eruption has led to widespread disruption in aircraft operations. Air India has cancelled 11 flights, while other carriers such as IndiGo, Akasa Air, and KLM have also been affected. In a statement on X (formerly Twitter), IndiGo confirmed it is closely monitoring the situation in coordination with international aviation bodies.
Mumbai Airport has advised passengers to verify their flight status before heading to the airport. Meanwhile, India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation has issued an advisory to flight operators, urging pilots to report any suspected ash encounters, including engine performance anomalies or cabin smoke or odour.
The advisory also directs carriers to inspect aircraft operating near affected zones and “suspend or delay operations to impacted airports if conditions deteriorate.”
Historical Context and Expert Insights
Volcanic ash clouds are relatively rare but can have severe consequences. The eruption of Iceland’s Eyjafjallajökull volcano in 2010 serves as a stark reminder, having caused global travel chaos. The UK and European airspace were shut or partially shut, leading to the worst air-travel disruption since World War Two.
GP Sharma, President of Meteorology and Climate Change at Skymet Weather, highlighted the challenges in measuring contamination from volcanic eruptions. “Measuring contamination caused by volcanic eruptions takes a lot of preparation. Sensors have to be deployed in advance. This particular volcanic eruption did not provide any room for preparation, so the level of contamination is not known,” Sharma explained.
With three levels of volcanic ash contamination—low, medium, and high—guidance is provided on how long a pilot can fly in those concentrations before causing significant damage. However, the current level of contamination remains unclear.
Looking Ahead
The situation continues to evolve as the ash cloud moves towards China. Aviation authorities and airlines are maintaining vigilance, with safety measures in place to mitigate risks. As the skies over Delhi are expected to clear soon, the focus remains on ensuring passenger safety and minimizing further disruptions.
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