Air travel across Indonesia was severely disrupted on Sunday after an eruption of Mount Anak Krakatau sent a large plume of volcanic ash into the atmosphere, forcing authorities to suspend operations at several airports, including Jakarta’s Soekarno-Hatta International Airport. The eruption also affected international and domestic flights, disrupted fishing activities and prompted some schools to suspend outdoor and in-person activities amid concerns over ash exposure.
The eruption, which began on Saturday, produced lava and powerful explosions, with sounds reportedly heard hundreds of kilometres away. Indonesia’s geological authorities recorded two further eruptions on Sunday as volcanic activity continued. Ash was detected in the airspace surrounding Soekarno-Hatta, one of the country’s busiest aviation hubs, leading officials to halt flight operations as a precaution.
At the initial stage of the disruption, five airports were affected, with the shutdown at Soekarno-Hatta repeatedly extended as authorities monitored the movement and concentration of volcanic ash. The airport operator said hundreds of flights had been affected, including dozens of international services. Singapore Airlines cancelled flights to and from Jakarta, while Australian carrier Qantas reported disruptions and cancellations involving its Jakarta services.
The impact extended beyond Indonesia’s domestic aviation network. International routes connecting Jakarta with Singapore, Doha, Sydney and Kuala Lumpur were affected, while several domestic services, including flights to Bali, were cancelled. As the ash cloud moved through the region, airlines and aviation authorities closely monitored conditions because volcanic ash can pose a serious threat to aircraft.
Volcanic ash is particularly hazardous to aircraft because it can enter jet engines, where it may melt onto hot components and subsequently damage turbine blades and other systems. Fine ash can also affect fuel and air systems and reduce visibility through cockpit windscreens. Because of these risks, aviation authorities opted for flight suspensions rather than allowing aircraft to operate through potentially contaminated airspace.
The disruption quickly affected passengers at Jakarta’s airport, where travellers were left waiting as flights were cancelled or delayed. Airport authorities arranged food and refreshments for affected passengers and coordinated with airlines to provide transport to hotels for some stranded travellers. Later estimates indicated that the disruption had grown substantially, with more than 1,500 flights affected and around 170,000 passengers stranded across eight airports.
The volcanic ash also affected communities on the ground. Ash was reported in parts of Java and Sumatra, including Bandar Lampung, where it covered vehicles and roads. Residents reported eye irritation, while some schools cancelled activities and moved classes online as a precaution. Fishermen also cancelled trips because of concerns over conditions in the affected areas. Indonesian authorities advised people to limit exposure to volcanic ash and remain alert as the eruption continued.
Authorities also explored measures to reduce the impact of the ash. Indonesia’s disaster mitigation agency planned weather-modification operations, including possible cloud seeding, in an attempt to generate rainfall that could wash volcanic ash from affected areas. Officials said sufficiently heavy rain could help clear ash that had accumulated across communities and disrupted normal life.
Anak Krakatau, whose name means “Child of Krakatau”, lies in the Sunda Strait between the Indonesian islands of Java and Sumatra. The volcano emerged from the caldera created by the catastrophic 1883 eruption of Krakatau, one of the most destructive volcanic events in recorded history, which is estimated to have killed around 35,000 people.
The volcano has remained intermittently active since its emergence and has a particularly significant history. In 2018, a collapse associated with Anak Krakatau triggered a tsunami that struck coastal areas of Java and Sumatra, killing 429 people and displacing thousands. However, Indonesian geological authorities said the latest series of eruptions did not have the potential to generate a tsunami.
Authorities nevertheless imposed a three-kilometre exclusion zone around the volcano and warned ships travelling through the Sunda Strait to exercise caution. Officials continued monitoring volcanic activity, while aviation authorities assessed atmospheric conditions before deciding when flights could safely resume. The eruption highlighted once again the challenges faced by Indonesia, one of the world’s most volcanically active countries, where eruptions can rapidly affect transport, public health and everyday life across large areas.
