On March 21, 2010 the Icelandic Eyjafjöll volcano, which laid dormant for 190 years, erupted just after midnight. Lava was sent about 100m high. After a pause in activity, the volcano began erupting for the second time on April 13, sending a plume of ash (a mixture of sand and rock particles) 8.5km high into the atmosphere. Volcanic ash can cause major damage to aircrafts through clogging engines and, causing danger by scouring windscreens.
Since the volcano is about 125 km from the capital Reykjavik, the Icelandic airspace was closed immediately, and flights en route were ordered to return or diverted. On April 15 the cloud of ash had reached the UK and soon all flights were suspended. This action was followed by Scandinavian, Dutch and German airports and by April 16 most other airports in Europe were closed. Airtraffic disruption in Europe is expected to be greater than that after the NY WTC attack and the volcanic activity shows no sign of abating. KLM and Lufthansa is carrying out test flights to see whether it is safe to fly. However, IATA (International Air Transport Association) predicted little or no improvement on Sunday (April 18).
Stranded commuters are forced to seek alternative means of transport, often resorting to trains, buses, rental cars and ferries. Major train strikes in France (SNCF) and other strikes in the transport business added more tension to the situation, rendering some of these alternatives impossible.
The effects of the ash on people with existing respiratory conditions were "likely to be short term", according to British health officials.
Since the volcano is about 125 km from the capital Reykjavik, the Icelandic airspace was closed immediately, and flights en route were ordered to return or diverted. On April 15 the cloud of ash had reached the UK and soon all flights were suspended. This action was followed by Scandinavian, Dutch and German airports and by April 16 most other airports in Europe were closed. Airtraffic disruption in Europe is expected to be greater than that after the NY WTC attack and the volcanic activity shows no sign of abating. KLM and Lufthansa is carrying out test flights to see whether it is safe to fly. However, IATA (International Air Transport Association) predicted little or no improvement on Sunday (April 18).
Stranded commuters are forced to seek alternative means of transport, often resorting to trains, buses, rental cars and ferries. Major train strikes in France (SNCF) and other strikes in the transport business added more tension to the situation, rendering some of these alternatives impossible.
The effects of the ash on people with existing respiratory conditions were "likely to be short term", according to British health officials.
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