DGCA issues advisory as volcanic ash from Ethiopia heads toward India

Airports told to prepare for inspections, possible operational suspensions

- OUR CORRESPONDENT

Flight operations across several routes faced disruption on Monday as a massive volcanic ash cloud from Ethiopia advanced toward India, prompting cancellations, rerouting, and an urgent safety advisory from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation. The ash plume, originating from Ethiopia's Hayli Gubbi volcano which has erupted for the first time in nearly 12,000 years, has been moving eastward across the Red Sea toward Yemen and Oman and has now spread over the northern Arabian Sea. Meteorological agencies expect it to enter Indian airspace late Monday evening, beginning with Gujarat before drifting toward Rajasthan, Delhi NCR and Punjab.

Akasa Air, IndiGo, and KLM cancel multiple flights; several services rerouted through Pakistan airspace DGCA issues urgent operational advisory after ash detected in Muscat FIR, warning of aviation safety risks affected air corridors. A Mumbai airport official said that several flights were already being diverted through Pakistan’s airspace as a precautionary measure. Officials noted that aircraft operations had begun to feel the impact on Monday afternoon, with further disruptions anticipated through the night.