Mount Etna eruption forces airport to close as giant ash plume spreads
Thousands of travellers due to fly to or from airports in Sicily have seen their flights cancelled or diverted after a new eruption at nearby Mount Etna
Reuters
Thousands of travellers due to fly to or from airports in Sicily have seen their flights cancelled or diverted after a new eruption at nearby Mount Etna.
An ash plume from the 3,357m volcano spread across eastern part of the island.
After the arrival of a flight from Casablanca at 2.38am local time on Monday, Catania airport - which normally handles around 200 flights each day in August - closed its doors.
The airport website said: “Because of an eruption at Etna and falling ash, flights are suspended until 8pm."
An ash plume from the 3,357m volcano spread across eastern part of the island
Reuters
The airport is the main entry point to Sicily and is about 50km south of Etna.
Etna, which is nearly 11,000 feet high, is the tallest active volcano in Europe and has erupted regularly over the past 500,000 years.
An EasyJet flight which was due to take off at 6.30am from London Gatwick to Catania is currently being held on the ground.
The airline told passengers: “We’re sorry that your flight has been delayed.
"This is because volcanic activity in Catania is causing restrictions to the areas in which aircraft are permitted to fly.
“The safety of you and our crew is our highest priority and we thank you for your patience.”
Catania’s Mayor Enrico Trantino has also banned the use of motorcycles and bicycles for the next 48 hours “because several areas are covered with a layer of volcanic ash”, according to the city hall website.
The ash can cause more accidents as roads become slippery.
Catania’s Mayor Enrico Trantino has also banned the use of motorcycles and bicycles for the next 48 hours
Reuters
Other flights with British Airways and Ryanair have also been delayed, including seven due to land at Catania on Monday morning which have been diverted to Trapani airport at the far west of Sicily.
Around 10 million passengers last year transited through the airport, which serves the eastern part of Sicily.
The airport was also closed for a day on May 21 because of an eruption.