September 7, 2026:A massive ash plume from Indonesia’s Anak Krakatau volcano has disrupted air travel around Jakarta, forcing the temporary suspension of operations at the country’s main international gateway, Soekarno-Hatta International Airport.
The airport, located more than 150 kilometres from Anak Krakatau, remained closed until around 5:30 p.m. local time on Sunday, September 6. Airport operator Angkasa Pura said the disruption affected a total of 301 flights, including 58 international services, leaving hundreds of passengers stranded.
Singapore Airlines cancelled all flights to and from Jakarta for the remainder of the day because of the volcanic ash.
Volcanic ash poses a serious hazard to aircraft as it can cause severe damage to jet engines and significantly reduce visibility for pilots. Authorities therefore introduced precautionary measures at several airports across Indonesia.
Transport Minister Dudy Purwagandhi said operations were also suspended at six other airports, including Husein Sastranegara Airport in Bandung and Radin Inten II Airport near Bandar Lampung in Sumatra.
Airports in several other cities, including Semarang and Surabaya, were placed on standby to handle diverted flights and serve as alternative landing locations.
The impact of the volcanic ash extended beyond aviation. Local media reported that several schools cancelled scheduled activities after ash caused irritation to the eyes and respiratory discomfort among residents.
Major eruption sends ash thousands of metres into the sky
A new eruption at Anak Krakatau began late Friday night.
Indonesia’s Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysical Agency (BMKG) said loud explosive sounds were heard during the eruption, with reports indicating that the noise travelled as far as 700 kilometres from the volcano.
The eruption sent ash towards Java Island, with the plume rising to around 6,000 metres. In parts of Sumatra and Banten province on Java, ash columns reportedly reached as high as 15,000 metres.
Two additional eruptions were recorded on Sunday.
Indonesia’s disaster management agency BNPB said there was no immediate threat of a tsunami from the latest activity. Authorities are also considering artificial rainfall to help clear accumulated volcanic ash.
BNPB chief Suharyanto said sufficiently heavy rainfall could wash away the ash and reduce its impact on daily life.
Anak Krakatau emerged from the sea in the 1920s inside the massive caldera created by the catastrophic 1883 eruption of Krakatau.
The 1883 eruption is regarded as one of the deadliest volcanic events in recorded history. Anak Krakatau has remained intermittently active since then.
In 2018, part of the volcano collapsed into the sea, triggering a tsunami that struck coastal areas of Java and Sumatra and killed more than 400 people.
The latest eruption has once again highlighted the continuing volcanic and aviation risks posed by Anak Krakatau to densely populated areas and major transport networks in Indonesia.
Sources: Local media; Indonesia’s Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysical Agency (BMKG); National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB).