Indonesia Suspends Flights at Major Airport Following Volcanic Eruption of Anak Krakatau

Travellers wait for their flights at Soekarno-Hatta International airport near Jakarta, Indonesia, on September 6, 2026. Flight operations have been suspended at Indonesia’s main airport outside Jakarta after volcanic ash from the erupting Mount Anak Krakatau reached the country’s capital region.

Indonesia’s Soekarno-Hatta International airport announced on Sunday morning that it halted flights until 1:30pm local time (06:30 GMT) because of heightened eruptive activity at the volcano, which sits more than 150km (93 miles) away. According to the meteorological agency BMKG, Anak Krakatau began its eruption late on Friday, generating a fountain of lava and booming sounds audible up to 700km (435 miles) away. The volcanology agency further warned that two new eruptions were recorded on Sunday.

BMKG reported on its website that ash reached heights of up to 6,000 metres (20,000 feet) on the Java side and as high as 15,000 metres (50,000 ft) on the Sumatra side, alongside parts of Banten province in Java. The Indonesia Ministry of Transportation stated that an earlier airport suspension had initially affected 33 flights, including 16 international cancellations and seven delays.

Director General of Civil Aviation Lukman F Laisa explained that the extended shutdown came after a paper test between 12:35am and 1:05am (17:35 GMT and 18:05 GMT Saturday) confirmed the presence of volcanic ash at the airport. Lukman emphasized that safety remains the top priority for operational decisions and flight adjustments, noting that authorities are maintaining ongoing communication with airlines, air navigation services, and BMKG.

Singapore Airlines was among the carriers impacted, cancelling two flights to and from Jakarta on Saturday while delaying another two into Sunday. Meanwhile, Indonesia’s disaster mitigation agency confirmed on Saturday that the eruption presented no immediate tsunami risk.

Anak Krakatau first surfaced from the sea in the 1920s within the caldera left by the devastating 1883 eruption of Krakatoa, one of the deadliest volcanic events in history. The volcano has experienced periodic eruptions over the decades, notably in 2018 when a partial crater collapse triggered a tsunami that resulted in over 400 deaths along the coasts of Java and Sumatra. Aviation authorities continue to monitor the situation closely, as volcanic ash presents severe hazards to aircraft by damaging jet engines and impairing visibility.