Overview
- Catania International Airport suspended all inbound flights on Monday after volcanic ash from Mount Etna entered the Sector C1 airspace and operators ordered an airspace closure.
- Italy’s volcano observatory (INGV) reported continued intense explosive activity with new vents at about 2,750m and 2,360m feeding multiple lava flows and sending ash clouds southeast toward nearby towns.
- The aviation alert (VONA) was raised to red because of ash hazards to aircraft and several agencies later authorised phased resumptions under an orange alert while airport authorities continued to issue temporary suspension windows.
- Dozens of scheduled flights were diverted or restricted and passengers were told to check with airlines before traveling, while officials said there were no major injuries or structural damage reported so far.
- Mount Etna frequently disrupts regional travel and tourism, and volcanic ash can damage jet engines and reduce visibility, so ongoing INGV monitoring and airport coordination will determine how long operations remain unstable.