Mount Etna, located in Sicily, has erupted once again, releasing massive clouds of volcanic ash into the atmosphere and leading to flight cancellations at Catania Airport. The eruption resulted in the suspension of all incoming flights on Sunday, with the airport remaining closed until 2pm the following day. ITA Airways, Italy’s national airline, confirmed that all flights to and from Catania Airport had been either canceled or rescheduled.
The aviation alert level was raised to red by Italy’s National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology after detecting heightened activity at Etna. Strombolian eruptions, characterized by large bursts of lava and hot rock shooting from the volcano’s vent, were observed.
The volcanic activity began on Sunday morning, with ash emissions from a vent on the eastern flank of the Voragine summit crater. The intensity increased throughout the day, sending ash plumes rising up to a mile above the crater and later spewing glowing lava fragments into the air.
Catania Airport issued a statement advising passengers not to travel to the airport without first checking the status of their flights. Numerous flights were diverted, canceled, or delayed, with operations affected by the ongoing eruption of Mount Etna.
Passengers were urged to stay informed about their flight schedules and to contact their airlines before heading to Catania Airport. The airport closure, impacting both incoming and outgoing flights, was extended until midday due to the volcanic activity. Some flights were redirected to Palermo Airport in northwest Sicily.
The continuous volcanic ash in the air prompted flight restrictions at Catania Airport, with limited incoming flights and no restrictions on departures. Operations at Palermo Airport experienced increased activity due to the flight disruptions caused by Mount Etna’s eruptions.
Mount Etna, Europe’s largest volcano, stands at 3350m above sea level and is 35km in diameter at its base. The volcano’s ongoing activity and historical impact on the region have highlighted the dynamic nature of this iconic landmark.
