DGCA Issues Safety Advisory as Volcanic Ash Cloud Drifts toward Western India reaches Maharashtra
DGCA Issues Safety Advisory as Volcanic Ash Cloud Drifts toward Western India reaches Maharashtra
Airlines suspend and reroute services as volcanic ash cloud drifts toward western India, prompting major operational precautions.
A massive ash cloud from Ethiopia’s HayliGubbi volcano has disrupted flight operations in parts of India, leading to cancellations by IndiGo, Akasa Air and KLM, and triggering a detailed advisory from the aviation regulator. The situation developed on Monday after satellite imagery showed the ash plume drifting towards the western parts of the country at high speed and altitude.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation said that volcanic ash poses a direct threat to aircraft engines, windshields and cabin air systems. The regulator instructed airlines to avoid published ash-affected routes, revise flight paths and adjust fuel plans based on real-time meteorological updates. It added that any airport affected by ash must halt operations until runways, taxiways and aprons are inspected and cleared.
The ash cloud is travelling at 100–120 km/h between altitudes of 15,000 and 25,000 feet, with the possibility of rising up to 45,000 feet. Meteorological assessments indicate that the cloud will move further east and is expected to clear Indian airspace by Tuesday evening.
Akasa Air said it has delayed multiple flights because of the ash plume and is “closely monitoring the volcanic activity” to ensure compliance with global aviation safety norms. IndiGo said its services had been impacted, while international carriers have started reworking long-haul routes to avoid the region.
Air traffic managers have also been tracking rerouting activity near Mumbai. An airport official noted that several flights were attempting to move through Pakistan airspace, which remains unavailable to Indian carriers, resulting in further planning challenges.
The DGCA has asked all airlines to report any suspected ash encounters immediately, including changes in engine behaviour, smoke or unusual odour inside the cabin. Operators have been told to maintain constant watch through satellite tracking, wind models and updated volcanic ash advisories, as even small particles of ash, glass and rock can damage engines within minutes.
India’s preparedness follows long-established global aviation procedures, as past incidents including the 2010 Iceland eruption that shut down European airspace showed how fast volcanic ash can spread and disrupt major flight corridors. With the plume expected to shift towards China next, authorities said they will continue monitoring its movement until conditions stabilise.
