Bali Volcanic Eruption Forces Flight Delays, Cancellations

A volcanic eruption on the Indonesian island of Bali Thursday forced airlines to delay or outright cancel flights to the popular destination.

According to Reuters.com, Bali’s Mount Agung is located in the northeastern region of the island, and the most recent eruption sent a column of smoke and ash over one mile into the air, causing hazardous conditions for planes.

While Bali’s Ngurah Rai International Airport was still operating normally, several airline serving the region have canceled flights to and from the island. Some of the impacted carriers include AirAsia, Jetstar, and Virgin Australia.

Local officials claim hundreds of passengers were expected to be affected.

Flying through the smoke and ash can be dangerous for planes, as the debris in the atmosphere can clog fuel and cooling systems, damage aircraft engines and hampers visibility, hence the decision by multiple airlines to limit flights.