Ethiopia volcanic eruption live updates: Flights diverted as Hayli Gubbi volcano erupts in Ethiopia after 12,000 years
In this photo released by the Afar Government Communication Bureau, people watch ash billow from an eruption of the long-dormant Hayli Gubbi Volcano in Ethiopia’s Afar region, Sunday, Nov. 23, 2025. (Afar Government Communication Bureau via AP)
Ethiopia volcanic eruption live updates: Flight operations in India and West Asia were disrupted on Monday after the long-dormant Hayli Gubbi volcano in northern Ethiopia erupted for the first time in more than 12,000 years, sending a massive ash cloud across the Red Sea and towards South Asia. An IndiGo flight from Kannur to Abu Dhabi was among those diverted, and aviation authorities issued detailed safety guidelines.
What happened : An IndiGo flight (6E 1433) from Kannur to Abu Dhabi was diverted to Ahmedabad due to volcanic ash from the Hayli Gubbi eruption. IndiGo said the aircraft landed safely and a return service to Kannur would be arranged. Other airlines, including Akasa Air and KLM, also cancelled or rerouted flights as the ash cloud spread over Yemen, Oman, India and parts of Pakistan.
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Where the eruption occurred: The Hayli Gubbi volcano in Ethiopia’s Afar region erupted on Sunday morning, coating nearby villages in ash. According to locals quoted by the Associated Press (AP), there is no previous record of this volcano erupting. The Smithsonian Institution’s Global Volcanism Program confirmed that Hayli Gubbi had no known activity during the Holocene period, which began around 12,000 years ago. Satellite images reviewed by the Toulouse Volcanic Ash Advisory Center showed ash rising up to 14 km and drifting westward.
Impact on India and aviation advisory: A thick ash cloud from the eruption is expected to reach Delhi, Punjab and Haryana on Monday night, leading India’s aviation regulator, the DGCA, to issue a detailed advisory. Airlines have been told to avoid volcanic ash-affected routes and flight levels, adjust planning and fuel, and immediately report any suspected ash encounter, including engine anomalies. Airport operators have been instructed to inspect runways and taxiways
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