Flight operations across several Indian cities were disrupted on Tuesday after volcanic ash from Ethiopia’s Hayli Gubbi volcano drifted towards northwest India. Seven international flights scheduled between 1 AM and 6 PM were cancelled and 12 others delayed as airlines altered routes to avoid ash-laden airspace.
The Hayli Gubbi volcano, located in Ethiopia’s Afar region, erupted for the first time in nearly 10,000 years, sending massive ash plumes rising up to 14 km into the atmosphere. Satellite images showed the ash cloud sweeping across the Red Sea before being carried by upper-level winds towards Yemen, Oman, the Arabian Sea, and eventually parts of western and northern India.
Ash Cloud Spread Across Multiple Indian States
By Monday night, the ash mass had drifted over:
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Rajasthan
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Gujarat
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Maharashtra
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Delhi-NCR
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Punjab
However, meteorologists clarified that the ash remains confined to the upper troposphere and is not affecting surface-level air quality.
IMD: ‘No Impact on AQI, Weather Conditions’
Dr. Mrutyunjay Mohapatra, Director General of Meteorology at the India Meteorological Department (IMD), said the ash cloud is too high in the atmosphere to influence pollution levels.
“The volcanic ash is present only in the upper troposphere and is impacting flight operations. It has no effect on air quality or weather. Our estimate shows it will move completely towards China by evening.”
Flights Cancelled and Delayed
Airlines issued multiple cancellations and delays due to the ash corridor affecting international routes.
Air India cancelled the following flights on 25 November:
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AI 2822 – Chennai to Mumbai
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AI 2466 – Hyderabad to Delhi
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AI 2444 / 2445 – Mumbai–Hyderabad–Mumbai
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AI 2471 / 2472 – Mumbai–Kolkata–Mumbai
Akasa Air cancelled Monday and Tuesday flights to Jeddah, Kuwait, and Abu Dhabi, citing unsafe airspace conditions.
In total:
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7 international flights cancelled
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12 international flights delayed
Why Did the Volcano Erupt After 10,000 Years?
According to Narottam Sahoo, Advisor to the Gujarat Council on Science & Technology, the sudden eruption was triggered by tectonic activity beneath Ethiopia’s Afar region, a geological hotspot where three tectonic plates meet.
Ash Travel Path
The ash plume originated nearly 800 km northeast of Addis Ababa, near the Eritrean border, before strong upper-level winds carried it:
Ethiopia → Red Sea → Yemen → Oman → Arabian Sea → Western & Northern India
No Air Quality Impact, Assures IMD
Despite concerns on social media about rising smog levels in Delhi-NCR, IMD reiterated that:
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The ash is at high altitudes
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It will not mix with surface-level pollutants
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AQI levels remain unaffected
Delhi’s air pollution continues to be dominated by local meteorology, emissions, and seasonal factors not the volcanic ash.
