Indonesia volcano eruption cancels hundreds of flights at major airport hub

An eruption from Anak Krakatau forced the closure of airspace around Jakarta and several other Indonesian airports on Sunday, disrupting 516 flight movements by mid-afternoon and affecting about 22,800 passengers at Soekarno-Hatta alone.

Indonesia's Geological Agency said the volcanic island in the Sunda Strait had shown signs of activity since Friday before erupting for 30 seconds early Sunday. Ash spread across western parts of the country, including Jakarta and Lampung province on the southern tip of Sumatra. Footage from a fishing boat showed lava shooting into the air.

AirNav Indonesia closed airspace around Jakarta's Soekarno-Hatta and Halim Perdanakusuma airports, as well as four other airports, including Radin Inten II in Lampung. The disruption also threatened to spread through aircraft rotations, fleet availability and terminal capacity as airlines worked to restore operations.

No casualties were reported, and authorities issued no evacuation orders because the nearest settlement lies more than 10 miles away. Officials nevertheless warned people to remain at least two miles from the crater. Lukman F. Laisa, the transportation ministry's director general of civil aviation, said safety remained the priority in every operational decision.

Anak Krakatau means "child of Krakatau" and refers to the offspring of the volcano whose 1883 eruption triggered a period of global cooling. Anak Krakatau's 2018 eruption caused a tsunami that killed at least 430 people in Sumatra and Java. Researchers believe volcanic activity triggered an underwater landslide, collapsing part of the island's southwest slope and displacing a large volume of water. Scientists said the island was left at about a quarter of its original size.

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Safety remains our top priority in every operational decision.