Volcanic ash grounds 2,961 flights in Indonesia

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Volcanic ash from Mount Anak Krakatau has affected 2,961 domestic and international flights and stranded approximately 341,000 passengers as of Monday afternoon, following the extended closure of seven regional airports.

"As of Monday afternoon, 2,961 flights were affected by changes in airport operations caused by the spread of volcanic ash, comprising 2,339 domestic flights and 622 international flights," Transportation Minister Dudy Purwagandhi said in a statement on Monday (Sept. 7).

The disruptions included cancellations, delays, and diversions, he noted.

In response to the safety hazard posed by volcanic ash, the ministry extended the closure of seven affected airports until Monday at 11:59 p.m. Western Indonesian Time (WIB).

The closures affect key airports across Java and Sumatra, including Soekarno-Hatta International Airport and Halim Perdanakusuma Airport in Jakarta; Radin Inten II Airport and Muhammad Taufiq Kiemas Airport in Lampung; Pondok Cabe Airport and Budiarto Airport in Banten; and Husein Sastranegara Airport in West Java.

Dudy emphasized that the extended shutdown is a conservative measure to safeguard aviation safety amid highly dynamic wind conditions that can carry volcanic ash plumes.

While initial on-site tests for ash deposits at several airside facilities returned negative results, officials confirmed that the airports would remain closed pending formal clearance from the Volcanic Ash Advisory Center (VAAC) in Darwin, Australia, the official regional monitoring body.

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