Catania Airport suspends flights as Mount Etna sends ash over Sicily

Catania Airport in Sicily suspended all incoming flights on Saturday after renewed activity at Mount Etna sent an ash plume approximately 4 kilometres (2.5 miles) into the air, according to Italy’s National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV).

The eruption prompted a red aviation warning and the closure of airspace sector C1, leading to restrictions on both landings and takeoffs. The airport said incoming flights would remain suspended until 4 p.m. local time on September 26 because of volcanic ash from Mount Etna.

Flights diverted before full suspension

Before the complete suspension, Catania Airport reduced its operating capacity to four landings per hour, compared with the usual 12.

At least 10 flights operated by ITA Airways were diverted. Five were sent to Palermo, three to Trapani and two to Comiso. A Volotea flight was also rerouted to Comiso.

Airspace sector closed

The airport’s Operational Coordination Unit later closed sector C1, imposing a ban on both landings and takeoffs.

According to INGV, the ash plume was generated by renewed activity at Mount Etna’s northeastern crater.