The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has issued a critical safety advisory to airlines following the eruption of Ethiopia’s Hayli Gubbi volcano, which has sent a massive ash plume across the Middle East. The volcanic ash has drifted into the Muscat Flight Information Region, potentially disrupting flights between the UAE and India. The DGCA has urged airlines to review their volcanic ash procedures, brief flight crews, and adjust flight planning based on the latest advisories. Operators have also been instructed to monitor NOTAM and meteorological updates, report any ash encounters, and conduct post-flight inspections for aircraft traversing affected zones. Airports have been advised to suspend operations if ash contamination is detected and to clear runways, taxiways, and aprons immediately. Flight disruptions have already begun, with KLM Royal Dutch Airlines canceling its Amsterdam-Delhi service and Indian carriers issuing cautionary updates for passengers traveling through the Middle East. SpiceJet and Akasa Air are closely monitoring the situation, prioritizing passenger safety and coordinating with aviation authorities. Air India has assured passengers that its flights remain largely unaffected but is prepared to implement precautionary measures. The Hayli Gubbi volcano, which erupted for the first time in nearly 10,000 years, has created an ash cloud now drifting toward northern India, prompting continuous monitoring by global aviation authorities.
UAE-India flights may face delays as volcanic ash from Ethiopia spreads over Middle East
