Passengers wait as Jakarta’s Soekarno-Hatta airport closes over Anak Krakatau ash

Passengers remained stranded at Jakarta’s Soekarno-Hatta International Airport on Sunday morning after volcanic ash from Mount Anak Krakatau forced the airport to close until 9:30 a.m. local time.

At around 7 a.m., waiting areas near the Terminal 3 check-in counters were full. Some passengers sat on the floor, while queues formed at the counters. Airport announcements urged passengers to remain calm and wait for further information.

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Flight operations at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport have been temporarily closed. Passengers are urged to remain calm and wait for further information about flight developments.

Randi, 29, said his flight to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, had been cancelled. The flight had been scheduled to leave at 11 a.m. “To Malaysia, at 11. But it was cancelled too,” he said. He said he had not yet received information about what would happen next and was waiting to confirm the airport’s operating status.

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To Malaysia, at 11. But it was cancelled too.

According to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation, the airport initially closed from 1:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. under NOTAM A3341/26. The decision followed a paper test conducted between 12:35 a.m. and 1:05 a.m. that showed volcanic ash in the area.

A further test by the Soekarno-Hatta Class I Meteorological Station, conducted between 6:05 a.m. and 6:35 a.m., also indicated ash near the airport. Authorities extended the closure under NOTAM A3344/26 and NOTAM A3341/26. An update issued at 5:30 a.m. said all 170 aircraft that had remained overnight were safe on the apron, including 66 at Terminal 1.

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I have not received any information. It is still unclear. I just read that operations were closed. Maybe I will just wait until 9:30.