Volcanic ash from Mount Anak Krakatau, which has been erupting since September 4, led Indonesia to suspend flights at airports in Jakarta and Lampung. This initial closure was later extended due to shifting winds carrying the ash. The closures affected a total of eight airports in western Indonesia, including Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Jakarta, the country's busiest.
The disruption had a significant impact on air travel, with 1,558 flights delayed across the eight affected airports, leaving an estimated 170,000 passengers stranded. At Soekarno-Hatta alone, over 900 flights were impacted. Airlines like Garuda Indonesia, Singapore Airlines, Scoot, Lion Air Group, AirAsia Indonesia, Malaysia Airlines, and Royal Brunei Airlines canceled numerous domestic and international services. For instance, Singapore Airlines canceled 19 flights, and Scoot canceled 12 between Singapore and Jakarta.
Transport Minister Dudy Purwagandhi confirmed the extended closures, explaining that wind shifts were causing the volcanic ash to spread eastwards at 15,000 feet. The airport closures were initially set to last until 8:59 AM local time on September 7. Alternative airports like Kertajati, Juanda, and Semarang were offered for diverting Jakarta-bound flights. In addition to flight disruptions, schools in Jakarta switched to remote learning as a precaution against ash exposure, and the Health Ministry activated emergency centers to address potential respiratory and eye problems from the ash.
