Mount Etna erupts again, disrupting flights at Sicily's Catania Airport
Mount Etna's continued eruptions have caused fresh travel disruptions at Sicily's Catania Airport, with incoming flights briefly halted due to ash clouds and lava flows.
Europe's most active volcano, Mount Etna, has erupted once more, sending large plumes of ash, smoke, and glowing rock fragments into the sky above Sicily. The ongoing volcanic activity forced aviation authorities to temporarily suspend incoming flights at Catania Airport on Saturday and restrict airspace over the affected region during peak summer holiday travel.
Operations partially resumed late Saturday afternoon after the alert level was downgraded from red to orange. However, Italy's National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV) noted ongoing explosions and lava flows down the mountain slopes, with ash clouds drifting toward the south-southeast. Travelers are advised to check flight statuses as conditions remain variable.
Sources: Der Spiegel, Der Standard, Die Zeit, ORF, Tagesschau.
Sources
- ORF — Ätna-Ausbruch sorgt für Flugstreichungen auf Sizilien
- Der Spiegel — Ätna auf Sizilien ausgebrochen: Flugverkehr in Catania eingeschränkt
- Die Zeit — Italien: Vulkan Ätna auf Sizilien ausgebrochen
- Der Standard — Vulkan Ätna auf Sizilien stößt glühende Gesteinsbrocken und Asche aus
- Tagesschau — Europas aktivster Vulkan Ätna spuckt wieder Asche und Lava
Earlier coverage
- Aug 11, 2026, 09:30 PM UTCMount Etna eruption causes ongoing flight disruptions in Sicily
- Aug 9, 2026, 03:30 AM UTCMount Etna eruption disrupts flights at Sicily's Catania airport