Indonesia Grounds Flights as Anak Krakatau Ash Shuts Jakarta’s Main Airport

Indonesia’s busiest international gateway was forced to suspend flight operations on Sunday after ash from the erupting Anak Krakatau volcano drifted into the airspace around Jakarta, triggering widespread travel disruption across the country.

Authorities halted departures and arrivals at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, the main hub serving the Indonesian capital, citing the danger posed by volcanic ash to aircraft engines and flight safety. The airport operator initially announced a temporary suspension before extending restrictions as officials continued monitoring the ash cloud.

The eruption has affected at least 301 flights, including dozens of international services, with routes to destinations such as Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Hong Kong, Guangzhou and Doha among those delayed or cancelled. Airlines including Singapore Airlines and Malaysia Airlines confirmed cancellations, while passengers crowded terminals awaiting updates and rebooking arrangements.

The volcanic activity began late Friday, with Anak Krakatau, located in the Sunda Strait between Java and Sumatra, producing repeated eruptions. Indonesia’s geological agency said one of the eruptions sent an ash column soaring as high as 50,000 feet (around 15 kilometres), allowing fine ash to spread across western Indonesia and into the Jakarta region.

Beyond aviation, the eruption disrupted daily life in nearby communities. Schools in affected areas suspended outdoor activities, fishing operations were halted in parts of the Sunda Strait, and emergency authorities distributed protective masks as residents reported reduced visibility and irritation from falling ash. Officials also said weather-modification measures, including cloud-seeding, were being prepared to help reduce ash fallout in some regions.

Despite the dramatic eruption, authorities stressed there was no tsunami warning in effect. The reassurance is significant because Anak Krakatau remains closely associated with its devastating 2018 eruption, when a volcanic flank collapse generated a tsunami that killed more than 400 people along the coasts of Java and Sumatra.

Indonesia sits on the Pacific Ring of Fire, making it one of the world’s most volcanically active nations, with more than 120 active volcanoes. Aviation officials said airport operations would resume only when ash concentrations fell to safe levels, warning travellers that delays and cancellations could continue as airlines reposition aircraft and crews.

The disruption is another reminder of how quickly natural hazards can ripple through global travel networks. A single volcanic eruption hundreds of kilometres from a major city has stranded thousands of passengers, interrupted international air links and underscored the constant balancing act between mobility and safety in one of the world’s busiest aviation regions.