Catania airport suspends flights as Mount Etna ash cloud spreads

Flights at Catania airport in Sicily have been temporarily suspended because of Mount Etna’s eruption and volcanic ash released into the atmosphere, airport operator SAC said. The closure of airspace around the volcanic cloud, located to the southwest in sector C1, has been extended until further notice due to stable winds. The airport had earlier paused incoming flights until noon local time, while departures of planes already on the ground continued normally. It was disrupted several times on Friday.

Italy’s National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV) said Etna remains active. Lava is flowing from the Voragine crater, and stronger explosive activity has formed a volcanic cloud spreading south. On Thursday evening, after increased ash emissions, the volcano produced a lava fountain. On Friday, scientists said a new eruptive vent had opened around 2,750 meters up in the Voragine area, but lava flows are weakening and gradually cooling.