Historic Eruption: Ethiopia’s Hayli Gubbi Volcano Breaks 12,000-Year Slumber, causing widespread flight disruptions

 

After remaining silent for nearly 12,000 years, Ethiopia’s Hayli Gubbi volcano roared back to life on Sunday with a dramatic eruption that sent ash towering nearly 14 kilometres into the sky. Situated in the remote Afar region close to the Eritrean border, the volcano’s unexpected awakening after millennia shocked scientists and observers worldwide.

Huge ash clouds drifted far beyond Ethiopia, spreading across Yemen, Oman, India, and northern Pakistan. The drifting plumes have raised concerns about deteriorating air quality and possible disruptions to air travel across the region.

The eruption—lasting several hours—took place within the East African Rift Valley, a tectonically active zone where shifting plates often trigger earthquakes and volcanic events.

What makes this incident especially remarkable is that the Hayli Gubbi volcano has no confirmed eruptions for more than twelve millennia. Data from the Smithsonian Institution’s Global Volcanism Program shows that it remained inactive throughout the Holocene epoch, which began roughly 12,000 years ago. Its sudden reactivation therefore offers rare and valuable scientific insight.

A dormant volcano is one that has not erupted for a very long period but still holds the potential to erupt again. This differs from an extinct volcano, which is considered geologically “dead” and unlikely to ever erupt. Dormant volcanoes may remain completely quiet for thousands of years, but molten rock can still exist deep below. If the right geological conditions arise—such as tectonic shifts or increasing internal pressure—a dormant volcano can rapidly spring back into action.

Here is an additional section focusing on flight disruptions caused by the eruption:

Impact on Air Travel and Flight Disruptions

The sudden eruption of the Hayli Gubbi volcano has had a significant impact on global air travel. The massive ash plumes, carried by upper-level winds, spread across parts of the Middle East and South Asia, creating hazardous flying conditions. Volcanic ash is extremely dangerous for aircraft, as it can damage engines, clog ventilation systems, and reduce visibility—making it unsafe for planes to operate in affected airspace.

A number of international airlines were forced to reroute or cancel flights that crossed the ash-affected corridors. Flights connecting Africa with the Gulf countries, as well as several routes between the Middle East and South Asia, experienced delays. Aviation authorities in India, Oman, and Yemen issued advisories urging pilots to avoid regions with high ash concentrations.

Some airports in the affected zone temporarily suspended arrivals and departures as a precaution. Air traffic controllers also had to create new flight paths to divert aircraft around the drifting ash clouds, resulting in longer flight times and increased fuel consumption for carriers.

Experts warn that depending on wind patterns in the coming days, further disruptions are possible. Meteorological agencies are continuing to track the ash plume’s movement, while the aviation sector remains on high alert until the volcanic activity fully subsides.