The Anak Krakatau volcano erupted on Sunday, September 6, 2026, causing volcanic ash to spread across western Indonesia and disrupt aviation operations. As a result, Pondok Cabe Airport in South Tangerang was ordered closed until at least 2 p.m. Western Indonesia Time (WIB) under NOTAM C1080/26. Along with Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Jakarta, multiple airports suspended operations, causing 373 flights to be affected by 10:35 a.m. WIB due to cancellations, delays, and diversions.
Airspace Closures and Monitoring
Volcanic ash clouds extended over Jakarta, Banten, West Java, parts of Sumatra, and adjacent waters, prompting widespread airspace restrictions. AirNav Indonesia closed the controlled airspace around Soekarno-Hatta
and Halim Perdanakusuma airports in Jakarta, as well as Radin Inten II Airport in Lampung and other regional airports. Authorities including Indonesia’s Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG), PVMBG (Indonesia’s Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation), AirNav Indonesia, and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation coordinated ongoing ash movement monitoring to determine flight safety conditions.
Flight Disruptions and Official Safety Measures
Pondok Cabe Airport’s closure was initially set until 2 p.m. WIB, yet reopening depends on the assessed safety of the surrounding airspace. Jakarta’s Soekarno-Hatta International Airport had suspended flights from 5:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. WIB, with reports of widespread cancellations and delays. The
Transportation Ministry highlighted that airline operations will only resume after authorities confirm conditions are safe for flight operations. Officials warned that flight resumptions are not automatic after the scheduled closure and are contingent on the volcanic ash hazard lessening.
Impacted Airports and Passenger Guidance
Besides Pondok Cabe and Soekarno-Hatta, Husein Sastranegara Airport in West Java was also temporarily closed as ash spread westward. Flights at Radin Inten II Airport in Lampung and Halim Perdanakusuma Airport in Jakarta were affected. Passengers were advised to verify the status of their flights since cancellations, delays, and diversions were ongoing and changing. Airlines were instructed to prioritize passenger safety
and avoid operating flights until the airspace is cleared of volcanic ash.
