The Anak Krakatau volcano erupted in Indonesia on Sunday, September 6, 2026, triggering the closure of eight airports, including Jakarta’s major hubs Soekarno-Hatta International Airport and Halim Perdanakusuma Airport. The eruption occurred at 3:53 a.m. with a 30-second event, followed by a 16-second eruption near 7:00 a.m. that spread volcanic ash across airspace vital to Indonesian aviation.
Flight Cancellations Hit 1,558, Affecting 170,000 Passengers
Authorities canceled a total of 1,558 flights across the eight affected airports by Sunday evening, stranding approximately 170,000 passengers. Soekarno-Hatta International Airport alone saw 963 flight cancellations. Along with the Jakarta airports, Radin Inten II Airport in Lampung province was among the six
additional airports closed due to widespread ash. The closures are scheduled through midnight Sunday, pending further safety assessments.
Volcanic Ash Clouds Reach Up to 50,000 Feet, Airspace Closed
The Indonesian Geological Agency and the Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation reported volcanic ash plumes rising as high as 50,000 feet. One ash cloud reached 20,000 feet and drifted northeast, impacting Jakarta, Banten, West Java, and adjacent waters. Another plume covered parts of Banten, Lampung, Bengkulu provinces, the southern Sunda Strait, and the Indian Ocean west of Sumatra. AirNav Indonesia closed airspace over Soekarno-Hatta, Halim Perdanakusuma, and six other airports to mitigate risks posed by ash to aircraft.
Residents within
two miles of the Anak Krakatau crater have been advised to remain indoors. Settlements closest to the volcano are more than 10 miles away.
Officials Prioritize Safety Amid Cascading Airline Disruptions
Indonesia’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation is actively monitoring the eruption’s air travel impact and coordinating with airlines, airports, meteorology, and volcanology agencies. Lukman F. Laisa, the director general for civil aviation, stated, “Safety remains our top priority in every operational decision.” He warned that flight schedule disruptions could cascade, affecting aircraft rotations, fleet availability, and terminal capacity as airlines adjust operations.
Secondary Airport Disruptions and Passenger Responses
Beyond Jakarta and Lampung airports, flight operations at Bali’s I Gusti Ngurah Rai International
Airport and Medan were disrupted. Schools in ash-affected regions transitioned to online learning to reduce student exposure to volcanic ash.
Passengers expressed frustration amid limited information. 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.”
