Soekarno-Hatta airport suspends flights due to ash from Anak Krakatau
Mount Anak Krakatau erupted, blanketing parts of Indonesia in volcanic ash and forcing the suspension of flights at Jakarta's main airport.
Travel plans across Southeast Asia and beyond were thrown into severe disruption on Sunday, 6 September 2026, after Mount Anak Krakatau erupted in the Sunda Strait, blanketing parts of Indonesia in volcanic ash and forcing the suspension of hundreds of flights at the country's primary aviation gateway.
The eruption of the volcanic island situated roughly halfway between Java and Sumatra, in an archipelago resting on the Pacific "Ring of Fire" as reported by The Jakarta Post, prompted immediate airspace closures by AirNav Indonesia. The volcano, whose name translates to "child of Krakatau" and which emerged from the remains of the historic 1883 disaster, began showing renewed vigour late on Friday before a pronounced eruption occurred early Sunday morning. According to Nine, Indonesia's Geological Agency recorded the main eruption lasting 30 seconds at 3:53 a.m. Local time on Sunday, following weeks of intensified activity noted by agency head Lana Saria.
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Aviation authorities scrambled to establish safety perimeters as satellite imagery analysed by the Darwin Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre and Indonesia's volcanology agency revealed dual ash plumes. One cloud surged to an altitude of 20,000 feet and drifted northeast, while a second massive plume reached 50,000 feet, spreading westward and northwestward over parts of Banten, Lampung, and Bengkulu provinces, as well as sections of the Indian Ocean west of Sumatra. On the ground, Indonesia's Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) identified ash reaching 6,000 metres on the Java side of the volcano and up to 15,000 metres on the Sumatra side.
| Reporting Outlet / Agency | Flights Disrupted | Passenger / Operational Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Indonesia's Transportation Ministry / The Jakarta Post | 209 flights | Initial suspension at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport affecting domestic and international services. |
| The Traveler | More than 300 flights | Wider count including delays, diversions, and cancellations across regional hubs like Singapore's Changi Airport. |
| Nine.com.au | 1,558 cancelled flights | Closure of eight airports affecting 170,000 passengers, including 963 cancellations in Jakarta alone. |
The sudden shutdown created scenes of confusion and frustration at major transport hubs. Departure halls at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport filled with stranded passengers seeking refunds and reclaiming checked baggage, as documented by Nine. Regional reporting from The Traveler highlighted similar turmoil at Singapore’s Changi Airport, where travellers discovered cancellations only upon reaching boarding gates after receiving conflicting information from mobile alerts, airline websites, and airport displays. Carriers such as Singapore Airlines and regional operators rolled out schedule adjustments, while aviation specialists warned that conservative airspace policies remain vital because microscopic volcanic glass particles can melt inside jet engines and cause catastrophic turbine damage.
Government officials emphasized that safety remained paramount as they navigated the crisis. Lukman F Laisa, Ministry of Transportation director general of civil aviation, noted in a statement reported by Nine that flight schedules could face lingering cascading disruptions affecting aircraft rotations and terminal capacity. Meanwhile, the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) urged calm and vigilance. Spokesperson Berton Panjaitan advised the public via The Jakarta Post that individuals experiencing ashfall should wear masks and eye protection, limit outdoor activities, cover water sources, and exercise extreme caution while driving due to severely reduced visibility.
Local media in Indonesia reported that school activities were canceled in some affected districts on Saturday as students and residents suffered from eye irritation, while fishermen abandoned their maritime trips. In Australia, the federal government updated its Smart Traveller guidance, reminding citizens in the region to remain vigilant and heed local health advice regarding air quality, noting that individuals with asthma or respiratory sensitivities require extra care. Authorities confirmed that no casualties occurred and no evacuation orders were issued, explicitly reassuring the public that the eruption posed no immediate risk of triggering a tsunami akin to the deadly 2018 event caused by a flank collapse of the volcano.
As aviation authorities continue to monitor meteorological data and ash dispersion models, further updates on regional airspace management are expected.
