Overview
- Italy’s Mount Etna entered a renewed eruptive cycle in late June and showed intensified lava and ash emissions over the July 4–5 weekend, producing an ash cloud that closed nearby airports and grounded some flights.
- Whoopi Goldberg was stranded in Sicily and missed The View’s July 6 broadcast after she filmed a video explaining that local airports were closed and flights were canceled while she tried to return to the United States.
- Producers kept The View on air on July 6 with a reduced panel: Joy Behar joined Alyssa Farah Griffin and Sunny Hostin, and guest Michelle Buteau was pressed into service as a last-minute co-host.
- Goldberg returned to the show on July 7 and said she was on a plane when Etna erupted and that her flight left during a narrow 17-minute departure window arranged amid the disruption.
- Italy’s National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology is continuing to monitor Etna, and aviation officials warn that volcanic ash can damage aircraft engines, so travelers and airlines should expect continued short-term delays and occasional reroutes.