Anak Krakatau ash disrupts 2,961 flights and strands 341,000 passengers

Volcanic ash from Mount Anak Krakatau disrupted 2,961 flights and left approximately 341,000 passengers stranded as Indonesia extended the closure of seven regional airports.

Transportation Minister Dudy Purwagandhi said 2,339 domestic flights and 622 international flights had been affected by changes in airport operations. The disruptions included cancellations, delays and diversions.

The ministry extended the airport closures until 11:59 p.m. Western Indonesian Time on Monday. The affected facilities include Soekarno-Hatta International Airport and Halim Perdanakusuma Airport in Jakarta, as well as airports in Lampung, Banten and West Java.

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We are taking a conservative approach because wind conditions are very dynamic. We want to ensure that volcanic ash moves away from airports surrounding Mount Anak Krakatau.

Dudy said the decision reflected a cautious response to changing wind conditions that could carry ash toward airports around Anak Krakatau. “We are taking a conservative approach because wind conditions are very dynamic. We want to ensure that volcanic ash moves away from airports surrounding Mount Anak Krakatau,” he said.

Initial on-site tests found no ash deposits at several airside facilities, but officials said the airports would remain closed until they received formal clearance from the Volcanic Ash Advisory Center in Darwin, Australia. Ground crews were inspecting runways, taxiways and aprons, while airlines checked aircraft engines and fuselages for ash particles.

“We are ensuring everything runs smoothly, and we do not want to neglect the safety aspect,” Dudy said. The Transportation Ministry and regional disaster authorities continued monitoring advisory updates to determine when air traffic could safely resume.

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We are ensuring everything runs smoothly, and we do not want to neglect the safety aspect.