A major aviation alert unfolded on Monday after IndiGo flight 6E 1433 from Kannur to Abu Dhabi was diverted to Ahmedabad due to the massive volcanic eruption in Ethiopia, an event described by scientists as one of the region’s most extraordinary in recorded history.
The Airbus aircraft landed safely in Ahmedabad, and IndiGo said it will operate a return service to Kannur for passengers.
The disruption comes as ash plumes from Ethiopia’s Hayli Gubbi volcano, which erupted on Sunday for the first time in nearly 10,000 years, were projected to move towards northern India, raising concerns for flight routes passing through the region.
Indian aviation authorities and airlines are monitoring potential impact on flight operations over Delhi and Jaipur starting Monday evening, with some flights already adjusting routes to avoid the plume.
Akasa Air, in an advisory, said it is tracking the volcanic activity closely in line with international aviation protocols. It added that passenger safety remains its “utmost priority”.
The Hayli Gubbi volcano, located in Ethiopia’s Erta Ale Range, sent towering columns of ash and sulphur dioxide into the atmosphere on Sunday morning. Satellite assessments by the Toulouse Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre estimate the plume rose between 10km and 15km, drifting eastward across the Red Sea.
The ash cloud has already affected regions in Oman and Yemen, prompting environmental and aviation advisories.
According to Khaleej Times, Oman’s Environment Authority has warned of possible impacts from volcanic gas and ash, though its 68 monitoring stations, including eight in Dhofar and five in Al Wusta, have not detected any increase in pollutant levels so far. Residents can track real-time air quality through the country’s “Naqi” platform, officials said.
Despite its remote location, the eruption’s scale forced aviation authorities to issue cautionary notices as the plume reached altitudes used by commercial aircraft, stretching across Yemen and Oman and pushing further east.
Source: India Today