Ethiopian Volcano Erupts After 12,000 Years, Halting Numerous Flights

 Following the sudden activation of Ethiopia's Hayli Gubbi volcano after approximately 12,000 years, numerous regional flights have been canceled by airlines due to volcanic ash clouds released into the upper atmosphere.

The eruption, which occurred on November 23, 2025, sent ash and smoke approximately 14 kilometers into the sky, traveling across the Red Sea and Arabian Sea towards the western and northern regions of India. This has created risks of damage to aircraft engines and reduced visibility. Considering this unsafe situation, several major airlines have temporarily suspended or rerouted their international and domestic flights.

Akasa Air, one of the airlines most severely affected by this emergency, has canceled all its flights scheduled to fly to Jeddah, Kuwait, and Abu Dhabi on November 24 and 25, 2025.

Similarly, Air India has also halted approximately 11 flights to international destinations such as New York, Newark, Dubai, and Doha, as well as domestic destinations like Mumbai, Kolkata, and Chennai, as a precautionary measure. Furthermore, KLM has canceled flights in both directions between Amsterdam and Delhi, while IndiGo has responded to the situation by canceling several flights to the Middle East and diverting some aircraft to other airports.

According to a series of directives issued by the Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) of India, airlines have been instructed to avoid flying through airspace containing volcanic ash and to pay close attention to aircraft engines and systems. Aviation authorities are closely monitoring the situation due to the serious risk of engine failure if volcanic ash enters high-speed jet engines. However, meteorological departments have reported that by the evening of November 25, the ash cloud is expected to move out of Indian airspace towards China and the Pacific region, with a minimal risk of ash falling on India.

For the convenience of affected passengers, the respective airlines have launched a special program, offering free rebooking for alternative flights within seven days or full refund options. Airport authorities and airlines urge passengers to check the current status of their scheduled flights via official websites or airport announcements before arriving at the airport.