The Anak Krakatau volcano erupted twice early Sunday, 6 September 2026, disrupting air travel across western Indonesia. The first eruption lasted 30 seconds at 3:53 a.m., followed by a 16-second eruption about three hours later. Satellite data from the Darwin Volcanic Ash Advisory Center showed two ash plumes rising to 20,000 and 50,000 feet, spreading over Jakarta, Banten, West Java, Lampung, Bengkulu provinces, and nearby seas including the Sunda Strait and the Indian Ocean west of Sumatra.
AirNav Indonesia responded by closing airspace and suspending operations at eight airports including Soekarno-Hatta International Airport and Halim Perdanakusuma Airport in Jakarta, as
well as Radin Inten II Airport in Lampung. The closures lasted until midnight Sunday and led to the cancellation of 1,558 flights nationwide. Soekarno-Hatta alone accounted for 963 canceled flights. The disruptions impacted an estimated 170,000 passengers, leaving many stranded across the affected regions.
Passengers reported challenges with communication amid the cancellations. Spanish tourist Diego Urdiales said, “I was supposed to get input from the airline … but so far no news.” Indonesian passenger Michele Gouw commented, “It’s a natural disaster, it’s a force majeure, so, what can we do? We just have to accept it and wait for the
airline and airport directions.” Thousands of travelers faced uncertainty as flight schedules were grounded.
Indonesian authorities prioritized safety in response to the eruption. Lukman F. Laisa, director general of civil aviation at the Ministry of Transportation, said, “Safety remains our top priority in every operational decision.” The Directorate General of Civil Aviation has been monitoring the situation closely and coordinating with airlines, airport operators, AirNav Indonesia, and meteorological agencies. Laisa warned that disruptions could cascade, affecting aircraft rotations, fleet availability, and terminal capacity as operations work toward normalization.
Activity at Anak Krakatau has increased since July 2026, with the Sunday
eruption marking the strongest event during this period, according to Lana Saria, head of Indonesia’s Geological Agency. The agency continues to monitor the volcano’s development, assessing risks beyond eruption frequency or ash plume heights. Anak Krakatau is located in the Sunda Strait between Java and Sumatra. The volcano is a remnant of the 1883 Krakatoa eruption, which historically caused devastating effects. A notable Anak Krakatau eruption in 2018 generated a tsunami that killed over 430 people and reduced the island’s size considerably.
Volcanic ash also affected public health and safety measures. Indonesia’s Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation reported
ash fall over Jakarta and Lampung province. In response, the government authorized schools in affected areas to shift temporarily to online learning to reduce exposure to ash and allow local authorities to adjust activities accordingly. No evacuation orders were issued, and no casualties have been reported.
