A significant volcanic ash cloud, originating from the eruption of Ethiopia's Hayli Gubbi volcano, has turned Tuesday into a day of heightened alert for international aviation authorities and travellers, particularly those on routes connected to India. The massive plume of ash and sulphur dioxide is moving across crucial global flight paths, prompting airlines to reroute services and issue safety warnings to ensure the safety of aircraft flying at high altitudes.
What the Volcanic Ash Cloud Means for India
While the primary concern remains aviation safety, the drifting plume also raises questions for people on the ground. When a volcanic cloud passes over a city, its impact is directly tied to its altitude. In the case of the Hayli Gubbi plume, experts confirm the ash is travelling between 15,000 to 45,000 feet above the ground. At this high altitude, most Indian cities will likely only experience hazy skies or a slightly dimmer sun, with ground-level air quality remaining unaffected.
However, if ash were to settle closer to the surface, it could lead to temporary issues such as mild eye or throat irritation, a fine layer of dust on surfaces, reduced visibility, and discomfort for individuals with asthma or allergies. For aircraft, even high-altitude ash poses a severe risk as it can cause significant damage to jet engines, which is why the aviation industry reacts so swiftly to such events.
DGCA and Airlines Spring into Action
In response to the moving plume, India's aviation regulator, the DGCA, issued a formal advisory to all airlines. The directive instructs carriers to avoid zones affected by the volcanic ash and make necessary adjustments to their flight plans. Airlines have been specifically told to monitor weather alerts and NOTAMs (Notices to Airmen), ensure proper crew briefing, and immediately report any unusual engine behaviour or strange odours. Airports have also been asked to inspect runways and taxiways for any signs of ash accumulation.
Several airlines have proactively shared updates on the situation. IndiGo stated its teams are tracking the developments round the clock with global agencies. Air India reported no major impact so far but remains on high alert. Akasa Air took the step of cancelling flights to and from Jeddah, Kuwait, and Abu Dhabi for November 24 and 25 due to airspace concerns. International carrier KLM cancelled its Amsterdam-Delhi service for the day. Mumbai Airport advised passengers to check their flight status before heading to the airport, warning of potential delays and rerouting.
Tracking the Plume's Path and Impact
Weather tracking services confirm that the sulphur dioxide-rich plume is currently drifting over parts of North and West India, including Delhi-NCR, Haryana, Western Uttar Pradesh, and parts of Rajasthan. According to forecasts, the cloud is moving at a speed of approximately 100–120 km/h high in the atmosphere. While some haziness is expected, no degradation of ground-level air quality is anticipated. However, the forecasting service IndiaMetSky indicated that higher sulphur dioxide levels may be detected over Nepal, the Himalayas, and the Terai belt as the plume interacts with the mountain terrain.
Flight tracking platform Flightradar24 has provided a live map visualising the ash cloud's spread from the Sunday eruption, showing its progression across the Red Sea towards the Gulf region and western India. At Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport, operations continue as normal under close watch, with ground teams assisting passengers. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has announced that the ash cloud is moving towards China, with IMD Director General Mrutyunjay Mohapatra stating it is expected to completely clear Indian skies by around 7:30 PM on Tuesday.
