Volcano Outbreak Causes Jet Chaos at Jakarta Airport

Sun Sep 06 2026 09:41:01 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

Mount Anak Krakatoa erupts, halting 200+ flights and stranding tens of thousands at Soekarno‑Hatta, Indonesia's busiest gateway.

An erupting Anak Krakatoa sent ash into Jakarta's airspace, grounding over 200 flights and leaving more than 20,000 people stranded at Soekarno‑Hatta Airport. The ash cloud forced the transport ministry to suspend international flights to hubs like Singapore, Doha, Sydney and Kuala Lumpur until mid‑afternoon. Authorities warned there is no tsunami risk, but residents were urged to stay indoors and wear masks to protect against ash. The eruption, which began last Friday, showcases the ever‑active volcanic landscape of Indonesia’s Pacific Ring of Fire.

Massive ash clouds upend Jakarta flights

Mount Anak Krakatoa erupted, sending ash into the airspace around Jakarta’s main airport.

More than 200 flights were grounded and tens of thousands of passengers stuck at Soekarno‑Hatta Airport.

Grounding affects flights to Singapore, Doha, Sydney and Kuala Lumpur; operations were halted until 13:30 local time.

Authorities say no tsunami risk, but residents near the volcano were told to stay indoors and wear masks to guard against ash inhalation.

Anak Krakatoa, which erupted last Friday and again early Sunday, sits in the Sunda Strait between Java and Sumatra—a hotspot on the Pacific “Ring of Fire.”