Flights suspended at Catania airport due to the eruption of Etna and lava ash

Flights suspended at Catania airport, until 4pm, due to ongoing activity on Etna and the emission of lava ash from Etna's north-east crater which also produces an eruptive cloud 4 kilometers high. The operational coordination unit (NCO), after the closure of the airspace in sector C1, imposed the restriction to zero landings and zero take-offs. The warning issued by the INGV of Catania is in force on Etna for the flight, the Vona (Volcano observatory notice for aviation), red in colour, the highest level of alert on a scale of four.

A violent storm, which hit Catania all night, and a significant emission of lava ash, which disperses towards the South, from the North-East crater of Etna which, according to the INGV, also produces an eruptive cloud 4 kilometers high. These are the phenomena that are causing inconvenience at the Vincenzo Bellini international airport. Ten flights have already been diverted to other airports: five to Palermo, three to Trapani and two to Comiso.