- By Shubham Bajpai
- Mon, 24 Nov 2025 08:38 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on Monday issued an urgent advisory to all airlines and airport operators after a thick cloud of ash from the volcanic eruption at Ethiopia’s Hayli Gubbi volcano was detected in the Muscat Flight Information Region (FIR) and adjoining areas.
The DGCA advisory warned that the activity poses a potential safety risk to aircraft operating in the region. The DGCA has issued a Volcanic Ash Advisory, along with an ASHTAM, a special aviation alert which is issued to the pilots as a type of NOTAM about hazardous volcanic conditions.
The DGCA has asked all national aviation operators to brief their personnel on the Operations Manual - Volcanic Ash to ensure strict compliance based on the established procedures.
According to the information, the plumes of ashes from the Ethiopian volcano are expected to reach Gujarat and move towards Rajasthan, Punjab, Delhi, and NCR in the next few hours.
The flights operating in the region will also be impacted accordingly, with further disruptions likely in the next few hours.
In a statement, Akasa Air said that it cancelled flights to and from Jeddah, Kuwait, and Abu Dhabi, offering passengers refunds or complimentary rebooking within seven days.
“Our teams are closely monitoring the situation in line with international aviation advisories and safety protocols, and will take all necessary measures as required. At Akasa Air, the safety and well-being of our passengers remains our highest priority," the airline said.
What did IMD say?
The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has said that the plumes consist of volcanic ash, sulphur dioxide and even small particles of rock.
The plumes are 10-15 km above the surface and so will primarily affect the flight operations. As part of preparedness, the airlines have already started cancelling flights since noon. So far, IndiGo has cancelled six flights.
What do we know about Hayli Gubbi volcano?
The Hayli Gubbi volcano is located in Ethiopia’s Afar Rift region. It erupted on Sunday with ash plume rising up to 45,000 feet.
Experts have noted that this is the first eruption in over 10,000 years. The ashes have already travelled across the Red Sea and have drifted to the Middle East and Central Asia.