Ethiopian Volcano Eruption Disrupts Flights as Ash Cloud Reaches Delhi

In an unexpected turn of events, a massive volcanic eruption in Ethiopia has sent waves of disruption across continents, ultimately affecting air travel in India. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) confirmed that a towering plume of volcanic ash—released from the Hayli Gubbi volcano—has travelled thousands of kilometres from the Horn of Africa, crossed the Red Sea, and drifted through Oman and Yemen before settling over parts of northern India, including Delhi.

The eruption, which began early Sunday morning, has drawn global attention not only for its scale but also because the Hayli Gubbi volcano had been dormant for several thousand years. Its sudden awakening sent a column of ash thousands of feet into the atmosphere, triggering aviation warnings and prompting rerouting of several commercial flights.

A Dormant Giant Awakens: The Hayli Gubbi Volcano Erupts

The Hayli Gubbi volcano is not widely known, precisely because it has shown no signs of activity in modern history. Geological studies indicate that the volcano has been dormant for millennia, making this eruption a rare and unexpected natural event. When it erupted on Sunday, it released a thick plume of tiny abrasive particles—volcanic ash—that can remain suspended in the atmosphere for extended periods.

Volcanic ash may appear harmless from afar, but it is made up of jagged, microscopic fragments of rock, minerals, and volcanic glass. Once ejected into the skies, these particles can wreak havoc on aviation and even interfere with satellite functions.

Ash Cloud Travels Across Continents

What makes this eruption particularly remarkable is the distance the ash cloud travelled. According to the IMD, the plume was carried by upper atmospheric winds across the Red Sea and Middle Eastern countries before entering Indian airspace. Meteorological models suggest that the ash drifted at altitudes between 8.5 km (5.2 miles) and 15 km above sea level, high enough to impact major commercial air routes.

Mrutyunjay Mohapatra, Director General of the IMD, explained the phenomenon in an interview with the BBC:

“It will temporarily affect satellite functions and flight operations. But it is unlikely to affect weather conditions or air quality.”

Mohapatra also confirmed that the ash had reached northern India by Monday night and appeared to be moving further northeast, potentially heading toward China.

Flight Operations Hit Across India

India’s aviation sector felt the impact almost immediately. As the ash cloud drifted across the subcontinent, airlines were instructed by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to “strictly avoid” affected air corridors. The abrasive particles in volcanic ash can cause severe damage to aircraft engines, reduce visibility, and contaminate runways — all of which make flying dangerous.

As a result:

Several flights were cancelled,
Others were delayed, and
Many international routes were rerouted to avoid contaminated airspace.

These disruptions affected not only Delhi-bound flights but also aircraft passing over northern India en route to other global destinations.

Aviation experts note that volcanic ash is one of the most serious natural hazards for aircraft. When sucked into an engine, the particles can melt, fuse onto turbine blades, and cause sudden engine failure. Because of this, even minimal volcanic ash presence is treated with extreme caution.

Will Delhi’s Air Quality Get Worse?

With Delhi already battling chronic air pollution, the arrival of volcanic ash understandably raised concerns. However, meteorologists assure residents that the volcanic ash is unlikely to worsen the city’s air quality.

Delhi’s air quality on Tuesday was classified as “very poor”, but experts note that the current pollution levels are primarily driven by local sources such as vehicle emissions, industrial activity, and seasonal crop burning—not volcanic interference from Ethiopia.

The altitude of the ash plume is also a key factor. Since the ash is moving at high atmospheric levels (8.5 km–15 km), it is not mixing with surface-level air that people breathe.

When Will the Skies Clear?

Forecasting the movement of volcanic ash is notoriously complex. It depends on shifting wind patterns, atmospheric pressure systems, and the nature of the eruption itself. Skymet Weather, a private forecasting agency, stated that predicting the exact dispersal timeline is difficult.

Nevertheless, the IMD has provided some reassurance, estimating that the ash is likely to disperse enough for Delhi’s skies to return to normal by Tuesday evening.

A Rare Meteorological Event With Global Ripples

The Hayli Gubbi eruption is a dramatic reminder of how interconnected the world’s natural systems are. A volcanic awakening in East Africa has sent ripples across continents, impacting flight paths, satellite operations, and global meteorological monitoring.

While the eruption poses no direct threat to India on the ground, its far-reaching ash plume underscores the importance of early-warning systems, international coordination, and strong meteorological networks capable of tracking natural events across borders.

For now, aviation authorities remain on high alert, meteorological agencies continue to monitor the plume’s journey, and travelers are advised to stay updated as flight schedules normalize.