New Delhi, (UNI) The ash cloud from the Ethiopian volcanic eruption has exited the Indian air space, the India Meteorological Department said on Tuesday night, with the Ministry of Civil Aviation adding that there was no cause of concern at the moment.
The ash cloud from the Hayli Gubbi volcano in northern Ethiopia was blowing 8.5 km to 15 km above the ground and did not have any impact on the weather conditions, and has moved out from the country on Tuesday night, IMD said.
According to weather agency, the latest satelite pictures suggested that
Hayli Gubbi volcanic ash plume has crossed India.
The Ministry of Civil Aviation on Tuesday stated that the airlines and the aviation agencies were ensuring seamless coordination following the volcanic eruption in Ethiopia, and there was no cause of concern at the moment.
The MoCA, taking to social media platform X on Tuesday evening, informed that operations across the country remained smooth, with only a few flights rerouted or descended as a precaution.
An IMD official had earlier in the day said that the ash cloud was poised to drift towards China, while moving above the North Eastern states, and would not have any likely impact on the surface, as it was moving at a very high altitude of 8.5 to 15 km above the ground.
MOCA also informed that the Airports Authority of India had issued the necessary NOTAM (Notices to Airmen) and all affected flights had been kept informed.
According to the ministry, it will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates to ensure passenger safety.
The MOCA also said that along with the Air Traffic Control, airlines, weather agency and the international aviation agencies, are ensuring seamless coordination.
Meanwhile, several flights were cancelled and were delayed at Delhi airport on Tuesday amid the situation.
On November 23, Ethiopia’s Hayli Gubbi volcano erupted, causing ash clouds to spew into the air, reaching approximately 14 km altitude. The plumes later dispersed eastward across the Red Sea and towards the Arabian Peninsula and the Indian sub-continent.
The high level winds carried the volcanic ash from Ethiopia, towards the Red Sea, then over Yemen/ Oman, towards the Arabian Sea and then India.
Earlier, on Monday the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) had instructed airlines to avoid volcanic ash-affected areas and flight levels and to update flight planning, routing, and fuel arrangements.
While the ash poses no threat on the ground, its presence at altitudes between 8.5 km and 15 km (approximately 15,000–45,000 feet) had raised concerns for aviation safety.
The ash plume, carried by high-altitude winds, drifted over Eastern Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, the northeastern region. The IMD and Met Watch Offices in Mumbai, New Delhi, and Kolkata had issued ICAO-standard SIGMET warnings to airports.
The advisories included avoidance of affected airspace and specific flight levels, as outlined in Volcanic Ash Advisory Center (VAAC) bulletins.
Continuous monitoring of satellite imagery, dispersion models, and meteorological advisories are being used to guide flight planning, rerouting, and fuel calculations.
The DGCA had also issued a detailed safety advisory directing all airlines to avoid the designated ash-affected zones, and they had been advised to adjust flight plans, reroute aircraft, and reassess fuel requirements.
Aviation authorities warned that volcanic ash can melt inside jet engines at extremely high temperatures, potentially causing severe engine damage or failure.
Several Indian carriers, including IndiGo and Akasa Air, had diverted or cancelled certain flights, particularly to Gulf destinations such as Jeddah, Kuwait, and Abu Dhabi.
Ethiopian volcanic ash plume has exited India: IMD
