Air India flight to Bali returns to Delhi after volcano eruption in Indonesia
NEW DELHI, India, June 18: An Air India flight bound for Bali from Delhi was forced to return midair on Wednesday following a volcanic eruption in Indonesia's archipelago, near the destination airport.
The airline confirmed that flight AI2145, operating from Delhi to Bali on June 18, was advised to return as a safety precaution due to reports of volcanic activity close to Bali's Ngurah Rai International Airport. 'In the interest of passenger safety, the flight was directed to return to Delhi,' an Air India official stated.
The aircraft landed safely at Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport, and all passengers were disembarked without incident. The airline extended an apology for the inconvenience and said hotel accommodations were arranged for affected passengers. Additionally, Air India offered full refunds or complimentary rescheduling to those who chose to cancel or defer their travel plans.
The volcanic eruption was attributed to Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki, located on the island of Flores. The 1,584-metre volcano erupted on Tuesday, sending a plume of ash 10 kilometers into the sky. As a result, multiple airlines cancelled flights to and from Bali, including Jetstar, Virgin Australia, Air New Zealand, Tigerair Singapore, and Juneyao Airlines.
According to airport authorities and Indonesia's disaster mitigation agency, operations at Bali's airport were disrupted due to the ash cloud, leading to dozens of flight cancellations.
Meanwhile, India's Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) reported that 83 wide-body Air India flights were cancelled between June 12 and 17, including 66 Boeing 787 services, though those cancellations were unrelated to the Bali incident.
The disruption underscores the vulnerability of regional air travel to natural events, particularly in the Pacific Ring of Fire, which includes Indonesia and is prone to frequent seismic and volcanic activity.
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Arab Times
4 hours ago
- Arab Times
Air India flight to Bali returns to Delhi after volcano eruption in Indonesia
NEW DELHI, India, June 18: An Air India flight bound for Bali from Delhi was forced to return midair on Wednesday following a volcanic eruption in Indonesia's archipelago, near the destination airport. The airline confirmed that flight AI2145, operating from Delhi to Bali on June 18, was advised to return as a safety precaution due to reports of volcanic activity close to Bali's Ngurah Rai International Airport. 'In the interest of passenger safety, the flight was directed to return to Delhi,' an Air India official stated. The aircraft landed safely at Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport, and all passengers were disembarked without incident. The airline extended an apology for the inconvenience and said hotel accommodations were arranged for affected passengers. Additionally, Air India offered full refunds or complimentary rescheduling to those who chose to cancel or defer their travel plans. The volcanic eruption was attributed to Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki, located on the island of Flores. The 1,584-metre volcano erupted on Tuesday, sending a plume of ash 10 kilometers into the sky. As a result, multiple airlines cancelled flights to and from Bali, including Jetstar, Virgin Australia, Air New Zealand, Tigerair Singapore, and Juneyao Airlines. According to airport authorities and Indonesia's disaster mitigation agency, operations at Bali's airport were disrupted due to the ash cloud, leading to dozens of flight cancellations. Meanwhile, India's Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) reported that 83 wide-body Air India flights were cancelled between June 12 and 17, including 66 Boeing 787 services, though those cancellations were unrelated to the Bali incident. The disruption underscores the vulnerability of regional air travel to natural events, particularly in the Pacific Ring of Fire, which includes Indonesia and is prone to frequent seismic and volcanic activity.
Kuwait Times
a day ago
- Kuwait Times
Saudi companies order 65 aircraft at Paris Air Show
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The Zionist defense ministry said in a statement that the 'outrageous and unprecedented decision reeks of policy-driven and commercial considerations'. 'The French are hiding behind supposedly political considerations to exclude Zionist offensive weapons from an international exhibition — weapons that compete with French industries,' it said. 'This is particularly striking given Zionist technologies' impressive and precise performance in Iran.' Zionists launched surprise strikes on Iranian military and nuclear sites on Friday, killing top commanders and scientists, prompting Tehran to hit back with a barrage of missiles. The presence of Zionist firms at Le Bourget, though smaller than in the past, was already a source of tension before the start of the Paris Air Show, because of the conflict in Gaza. A French court last week rejected a bid by NGOs to ban Zionist companies from Le Bourget over concerns about 'international crimes'. Local lawmakers from the Seine-Saint-Denis department hosting the event were absent during French Prime Minister Francois Bayrou's visit to the opening of the air show in protest over the Zionist presence. 'Never has the world been so disrupted and destabilized,' Bayrou said at a roundtable event, urging nations to tackle challenges 'together, not against each other'. — AFP
Arab Times
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7 killed in helicopter crash in India's Himalayan state of Uttarakhand
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