Quick Read
- Ethiopia’s Hayli Gubbi volcano erupted for the first time in 12,000 years, sending ash clouds up to 14 km high.
- Ash plumes disrupted flight paths across northern India, causing at least seven international flight cancellations and more than a dozen delays at Delhi airport.
- Air India, Akasa Air, and IndiGo rerouted, delayed, or canceled flights, prioritizing safety and providing passenger support.
- Affected Ethiopian villages faced health issues and contaminated resources due to ash fallout.
- By Tuesday evening, the ash cloud had cleared India, with aviation operations resuming normal schedules.
Ethiopian Volcano Eruption Sends Shockwaves Through Global Air Travel
On November 23, 2025, a rare and explosive event unfolded in Ethiopia’s Afar region. The Hayli Gubbi volcano, dormant for nearly 12,000 years, erupted with dramatic force, sending plumes of ash up to 14 kilometers (8.7 miles) into the sky. What started as a local geological phenomenon quickly morphed into a global air travel crisis, affecting flight routes thousands of miles away and stranding travelers at airports from Addis Ababa to New Delhi.
Ash Cloud Crosses Borders, Disrupting Flights in India and Beyond
High-altitude winds carried the volcanic ash eastward, sweeping across the Red Sea, Yemen, Oman, and the Arabian Sea before blanketing parts of northwest India. By Monday night, the ash cloud had reached key Indian states including Gujarat, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Delhi-NCR, Haryana, and Punjab. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the plume soared to 45,000 feet, a level commonly traversed by international flights.
India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) quickly sprang into action, issuing advisories and rerouting aircraft to avoid the affected airspace. Airlines scrambled to respond, prioritizing passenger safety above all. Air India canceled 11 flights over Monday and Tuesday, including major international routes such as Newark-Delhi, New York-Delhi, Dubai-Hyderabad, and Doha-Mumbai, citing the need for precautionary checks on aircraft exposed to volcanic ash. Akasa Air suspended flights to Middle Eastern destinations like Jeddah, Kuwait, and Abu Dhabi. IndiGo and other carriers assured passengers of their ongoing monitoring and precautionary measures.
The impact on passengers was immediate and significant. At least seven international flights scheduled at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport were canceled on Tuesday, with more than a dozen delayed. Many travelers faced long waits, rerouted journeys, and sudden changes to their holiday plans. The ash cloud’s unpredictable path forced airlines and aviation authorities to act with agility, issuing real-time updates and providing assistance, including hotel accommodations for stranded passengers, as reported by PTI and Reuters.
Local Fallout: Ethiopian Communities and Livestock Suffer
While the world focused on flight disruptions, the communities closest to Hayli Gubbi faced far more tangible consequences. Villages in Ethiopia’s Afdera district were blanketed in volcanic ash. Officials reported widespread coughing among residents and mobilized medical teams to provide relief in remote areas. “Many animals, especially in the two affected kebeles, cannot drink clean water or feed on grass because it is covered by volcanic ash,” said Nuur Mussa, a local livestock official, in an interview with the Associated Press. The fallout from the eruption contaminated water sources and pastures, threatening the livelihood of pastoral communities who rely on grazing animals.
Geologist Atalay Ayele of Addis Ababa University contextualized the eruption, explaining that Ethiopia sits atop an active rift system prone to both volcanic activity and earthquakes. The Hayli Gubbi event marked the first recorded eruption in 10,000 years, underscoring the region’s geological volatility.
Flight Disruptions Compound Holiday Travel Woes Worldwide
The timing of the eruption could hardly have been worse. With the holiday season approaching, airports worldwide were already bracing for a surge in travelers. In the United States, disruptions were compounded by the recent government shutdown, which left TSA agents and flight controllers short-staffed for weeks. At Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP), the percentage of canceled flights jumped from the usual 0.1% to 6.5% at the peak of the shutdown, according to Hamline Oracle. Even after Congress resolved the funding crisis, airports struggled to resume normal operations amid lingering uncertainty and elevated ticket prices.
For many college students and families, flying remains the fastest way to travel during the holidays. Yet, with volcanic ash disrupting airspace and government staffing shortages still affecting some airports, travelers found themselves weighing alternatives. Long-distance trains and buses offered some relief, but came with their own risks—delays, crowded stations, and longer travel times.
How Dangerous Is Volcanic Ash to Air Travel?
Volcanic ash poses a serious threat to aviation. Fine particles of glass, rock, and sulfur dioxide can clog jet engines, abrade aircraft surfaces, and obscure visibility. The Hayli Gubbi plume, detected by the Toulouse Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre (VAAC), prompted severe weather advisories (SIGMETs) from IMD offices in Mumbai, New Delhi, and Kolkata. These warnings flagged hazardous airspace segments, forcing reroutes and descents for affected flights.
Indian authorities coordinated closely with international aviation agencies, maintaining round-the-clock monitoring. “Operations across India remain smooth, with only a few flights rerouted or descended as a precaution. There is no cause for concern at this moment. We continue to monitor the situation closely and will provide timely updates to ensure passenger safety,” stated India’s civil aviation ministry.
Fortunately, as the ash cloud moved into higher atmospheric layers and drifted east toward China, its impact on ground-level air quality was minimal. Environmentalists and meteorologists agreed that, while the eruption was enormous, Delhi’s already poor air quality was not significantly worsened by the ash, which remained mostly in the upper troposphere.
Looking Ahead: Lessons Learned and Ongoing Risks
By Tuesday evening, satellite imagery confirmed that the ash plume had exited India, easing immediate aviation concerns. However, the crisis exposed vulnerabilities in global air travel infrastructure and underscored the interconnectedness of regional events. A volcanic eruption in Africa can, within days, disrupt flights and strand passengers half a world away. The ability of airlines and regulators to adapt quickly, communicate transparently, and prioritize safety was tested—and, for the most part, proven resilient.
For Ethiopian communities, recovery will take time. Contaminated water and pastureland threaten food security and health, while ongoing volcanic activity remains a risk. For global travelers, the episode is a reminder of how nature can upend even the best-laid plans, and how flexibility and vigilance remain essential in an era of unpredictable disruptions.
The Hayli Gubbi eruption demonstrated how a single event can ripple through global systems, stranding passengers, challenging airlines, and impacting communities. While authorities responded swiftly, the episode highlights the critical need for coordinated international monitoring and rapid response protocols to safeguard both travelers and those living in the shadow of natural disasters.