PMD warns Ethiopian ash could affect Pakistan's high-altitude flights
“Pakistan’s Met Office warned that ash from Ethiopia’s Hayli Gubbi volcano has entered national airspace at high altitudes.”
Key points
- Pakistan’s Met Office warned that ash from Ethiopia’s Hayli Gubbi volcano has entered national airspace at high altitudes.
- Authorities say international flights could be affected, but ground-level impact is unlikely.
The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) issued an advisory after volcanic ash from Ethiopia’s Hayli Gubbi eruption drifted into Pakistani airspace at cruising altitudes, cautioning that international flights could face engine and visibility hazards.
A PMD spokesperson said the ash was detected about 60 nautical miles southwest of Gwadar at roughly 45,000 feet. While domestic routes typically operate lower, between 34,000 and 36,000 feet, the department warned that high-altitude international traffic may experience effects.
Officials described the alert as unprecedented for Pakistan and said continuous monitoring was underway. The Hayli Gubbi volcano in Ethiopia’s Afar region, dormant for millennia, sent plumes high into the atmosphere over the weekend, with ash tracked by international advisory centers across parts of the Middle East and South Asia.
The PMD added that the ash should remain at high levels and is unlikely to affect conditions on the ground in Karachi and other cities. Videos of the eruption circulated on social media, including posts by X account @DisasterAlert2: https://x.com/DisasterAlert2 .
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