Italy issues red alert as Mount Etna erupts

Mount Etna on the Italian island of Sicily has become active again, sending an ash plume several kilometres into the air and disrupting flights at Catania Airport.

Italy’s National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV) issued a red aviation alert for Etna on September 24, reporting ongoing ash emissions.

The eruption prompted restrictions on air traffic, with part of the airspace around Catania closed. Flights at Catania Airport were affected by the volcanic ash, with incoming flights temporarily suspended and the number of permitted landings reduced.

Several ITA Airways flights were diverted to other airports, including Palermo, Trapani and Comiso, while a Volotea flight was also diverted to Comiso.

Catania Airport has previously faced disruptions because of ash emissions from Etna. Italian authorities and INGV have continued to monitor the volcano and its potential impact on aviation.

Mount Etna is one of Europe’s most active volcanoes and frequent eruptions have caused flight disruptions in Sicily in the past.