Soekarno-Hatta Airport temporarily closes after volcanic ash from Anak Krakatau detected

Soekarno-Hatta International Airport was temporarily closed early Sunday after authorities detected volcanic ash linked to an eruption of Mount Anak Krakatau.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation said the closure ran from 1:30 a.m. to 5:30 a.m. local time under NOTAM A3341/26. Paper tests conducted between 12:35 a.m. and 1:05 a.m. indicated the presence of volcanic ash in the airport area, creating a potential risk to flight safety.

As of 10 p.m. on September 5, officials recorded 33 affected flights. International services included 16 cancellations, seven delays, and five rescheduled flights. The affected routes involved Singapore, Hong Kong, Sydney, Seoul and Incheon, Doha, Amsterdam, and Kuala Lumpur.

Domestic services recorded four cancellations and one diversion, affecting flights to or from Lampung, Denpasar, and Surabaya. Director General of Civil Aviation Lukman F. Laisa said authorities were paying close attention to restoring schedules on September 6 because disruptions could cascade through aircraft rotations, fleet availability, subsequent flights, and passenger-terminal capacity.

Laisa said safety remained the priority in operational decisions. Airlines would continue adjusting schedules as conditions changed, while aviation officials coordinated with carriers, airport operators, navigation services, and Indonesia’s meteorological agency. Passengers were advised to monitor updates from their airlines and allow for possible schedule changes.