Major aviation disruption unfolds at Mumbai Airport as ash from Ethiopia eruption reaches India

Mumbai Airport faced significant delays and rerouting on Tuesday as a massive volcanic ash plume from Ethiopia’s Hayli Gubbi eruption entered Indian airspace. High-altitude winds carried the ash cloud, rising to nearly 14 km (45,000 ft), across the Red Sea and Arabian Peninsula before it spread over the Indian subcontinent, disrupting major international flight corridors.

The India Meteorological Department later confirmed that the ash cloud, which affected parts of Delhi, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Punjab and more, had fully exited India by 10:30 pm.

Meanwhile, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) or Mumbai Airport issued a notice urging passengers to check their flight status with their airlines before travelling, as further delays and diversions were likely.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) too issued an ASHTAM advisory, directing all Indian carriers to:

• Review volcanic ash safety procedures

• Avoid affected airspaces

• Adjust flight planning, routing and fuel calculations

• Activate internal safety risk assessments and monitor engine performance

Pilots, dispatchers and cabin crew were instructed to maintain strict caution and follow updated operational guidance.

Several airlines were forced to delay, reroute or cancel services due to safety risks. Air India cancelled 11 domestic and international flights on Monday and Tuesday to conduct precautionary checks on aircraft that had operated near affected airspaces.

Furthermore, airlines reported widespread schedule changes, with westbound flights from Mumbai taking longer oceanic routes to avoid the ash corridor. Mumbai ATC (Air Traffic Control) Centre was reported saying that around 30 flights bound for the Middle East were diverted, with aircraft avoiding route L639 and instead using routes such as M300 and P570.