Volcanic ash grounds air traffic across the UK

By IRNA,

London : Airline passengers faced massive disruption across the UK Thursday with the suspension of many flights following an ash cloud descending on the country from a volcanic eruption in Iceland.


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British Airport Authority (BAA) suggested that the emergency could lead to all flights being suspended in London as a mushroom cloud of debris headed south.

“Due to airspace restrictions, in accordance with international regulations as a result of the on-going volcanic activity in Iceland, we anticipate that all flights in and out of Heathrow and Stansted airports will be suspended from 1200 today,” a BBA spokesman said.

“Therefore, we strongly advise passengers intending to fly from this time not to travel to the airport today. We will provide further updates as we get more information from air traffic control provider NATS,” the spokesman said.

Tens of thousands of airline passengers faced travel chaos from early morning as airports in Scotland, northern England and Northern Ireland were the first to close and disruptions were caused elsewhere.

British Airways said it had cancelled all domestic flights for the whole of Thursday, which affected flights at London’s Gatwick, Heathrow and City airports.

The Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre issued a forecast that the ash cloud from the volcanic eruption in Iceland will track over Europe on Thursday night.

The European air safety body, Eurocontrol, said the cloud of ash reached 55,000ft and was expected to move through northern UK and Scotland by 1300BST.

Philip Avery, Met Office forecaster, suggested that the ash could take several days to clear. The cloud is caused by the Eyjafjallajokull volcano, which erupted in Iceland on Tuesday.

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