Travellers at Hyderabad’s Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (RGIA) faced disturbance on Tuesday after several flights were cancelled due to a plume of stormy ash drifting from Ethiopia towards northern India.
The unexpected situation left passengers frustrated and airlines scrabbling to adjust schedules.
Hyderabad Airport Issues Flight Advisory
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) promptly issued a critical advisory to airlines and airfields across the country.
The warning stressed the pitfalls posed by stormy ash to aircraft, urging both domestic and transnational carriers to reroute or cancel flights.
At least five breakouts to and from Hyderabad were affected, including:
- Air India AI 2204 (Dubai-Hyderabad)
- Air India AI 2466 (Hyderabad-Delhi)
- Air India AI 2444/2445 (Mumbai-Hyderabad-Mumbai)
- IndiGo 6E 1316 (Doha-Hyderabad)
Passengers were advised to check the rearmost flight status with their airlines before travelling, with some facing delays of several hours. The field stressed safety as the top priority, advising trippers to remain patient.
DGCA Warns of Ash and Flight Disruptions
The DGCA issued an ASHTAM alert, a specialised aeronautics warning for stormy ash. Airlines were instructed to avoid affected flight routes, cover all safety protocols, and immediately report any hassles with ash, similar to machine issues, bank, or unusual smells in the cabin.
Several transnational airlines rerouted flights through Pakistani airspace to avoid the ash pall. Indian carriers, still, are confined from using these routes, causing fresh cancellations and flight delays.
The ash premium began from Ethiopia’s Hayli Gubbi powder keg, which erupted on Sunday after nearly 12,000 times.
Fields have been asked to check runways, taxiways, and aircraft parking areas for any traces of ash and to continuously cover satellite images and downfall reports.
Passengers have been urged to stay informed and follow airline guidance, with authorities closely tracking the situation.
The combination of flight cancellations, air trip disturbances, and rerouted flights highlights the ongoing challenge of keeping passengers safe while managing schedules.
