Hayli Gubbi Volcano Eruption Sends Ash Cloud to India, Flights Disrupted

Ethiopia Volcanic Eruption: Hayli Gubbi Ash Plume Reaches Delhi, Disrupts Flights

A remote volcano in Ethiopia’s Afar region—Hayli Gubbi—erupted for the first time in nearly 12,000 years, sending massive plumes of ash 10 to 15 kilometres into the atmosphere above the Danakil Desert. Though the region has few inhabitants, the eruption has had far-reaching global effects.

Ash Cloud Travels to India

The volcanic ash plume travelled thousands of kilometres and reached northern India at altitudes of 25,000 to 45,000 feet, impacting Delhi, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Punjab, Haryana, and surrounding regions. Carried by high-level winds at speeds of nearly 100–120 km/h, the plume contains volcanic ash, sulphur dioxide, and fine particles of glass and rock.

Flights Cancelled, Skies Darkened

The arrival of the ash cloud darkened skies and significantly disrupted aviation. Air quality across parts of Delhi spiked above the 400 mark, as a thick, toxic haze settled over areas such as Anand Vihar, AIIMS, and Safdarjung.

Earlier, IndiaMetSky Weather had warned that the plume could make the sky appear unusually dark and hazy and may lead to major air traffic disruptions.

Several flights operated by Akasa Air, IndiGo, Air India, and other international carriers were diverted or cancelled due to hazardous conditions at cruising altitudes.

• Akasa Air cancelled flights to and from Jeddah, Kuwait, and Abu Dhabi on November 24 and 25, citing safety concerns due to volcanic ash.
• IndiGo said its teams were monitoring the situation closely in coordination with international aviation bodies and assured passengers that safety remained its top priority.
• Air India reported observing ash over certain regions but noted no major operational impact so far. However, it cancelled several flights as a precaution while conducting checks on aircraft that flew through affected routes.

Air India Cancelled Flights

• AI 2822 – Chennai–Mumbai
• AI 2466 – Hyderabad–Delhi
• AI 2444 / 2445 – Mumbai–Hyderabad–Mumbai
• AI 2471 / 2472 – Mumbai–Kolkata–Mumbai

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) issued an advisory directing airlines to avoid ash-laden regions, reroute aircraft, and conduct thorough engine inspections. Volcanic ash can severely damage aircraft engines, scratch cockpit windows, and interfere with navigation systems.

Ash Cloud to Clear India by 7:30 PM: IMD

According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the ash cloud is drifting toward China and expected to clear Indian skies by 7:30 PM on Tuesday.

IMD forecast models projected ash influence over Delhi-NCR, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Punjab, and Haryana. The eruption produced an ash plume rising up to 14 km (45,000 ft), spreading eastward across the Red Sea, Arabian Peninsula, and eventually toward the Indian subcontinent.

“High-level winds carried the ash cloud from Ethiopia across the Red Sea to Yemen and Oman, and further over the Arabian Sea to western and northern India,” the IMD said.

The department has been monitoring satellite imagery, advisories from Volcanic Ash Advisory Centres (VAACs), and dispersion models. Met Watch Offices in Mumbai, New Delhi, and Kolkata issued ICAO-standard SIGMET warnings, advising pilots and airports to avoid affected airspace and flight levels.