[REVISION HISTORY]

Etna eruption activity and aviation alert fluctuations

101 recorded revisions of this situation.

What changed

2026-09-28 23:03 UTC → 2026-10-12 08:13 UTC · added ~~removed~~

Following the eruptive phase that began on 14 September 2026, Mount Etna experienced intense activity at its northeast crater, producing ~~a significant~~ ash ~~plume~~ plumes reaching approximately four ~~kilometers in altitude.~~ kilometers. This triggered the National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV) to reinstate a red VONA ~~(Volcano Observatory Notice for Aviation) alert.~~ alert, causing repeated closures and flight suspensions at Catania-Fontanarossa Airport. The resulting ash dispersion led to major ~~disruptions at Catania-Fontanarossa Airport. Flight restrictions were extended as~~ disruptions, with airspace sectors C1 and B3 ~~remained~~ remaining closed ~~until midday on Monday,~~ through 28 September. To manage the traffic imbalance, numerous flights were diverted to Palermo, Trapani, and Comiso, leaving thousands of travelers—including citizens from Montenegro, Romania, and Bulgaria—stranded. Air Serbia has also joined these diversions, rerouting Belgrade-Catania flights to Reggio Calabria Airport and organizing bus transfers for passengers. Comiso. The disruption has triggered a transport emergency in Sicily. Regional Infrastructure Councilor Alessandro Aricò stated that the region has deployed resources to manage passenger transfers, including mobilizing Sicilian Region mobilized over 100 buses and ~~increasing~~ increased rail capacity by more than 5,300 seats ~~in collaboration with Trenitalia.~~ to assist stranded passengers. Despite these measures, ~~political criticism persists. Deputy Anthony Barbagallo and European lawmakers~~ travelers reported difficulties receiving timely information from ~~Forza Italia have called for increased coordination and have filed an inquiry~~ airlines. The economic impact has been significant, with ~~the European Commission~~ research indicating that summer closures related to ~~investigate whether airlines are upholding passenger rights under Regulation 261/2004. Discussions~~ volcanic activity have ~~also~~ caused approximately 600 million euros in damage to the Sicilian tourism sector. Political and structural discussions have emerged regarding the need to reinforce Comiso airport or develop an a unified regional airport ~~in Agrigento~~ management system. Additionally, inquiries have been filed with the European Commission to ensure ~~regional connectivity during natural emergencies. INGV experts have characterized~~ airlines uphold passenger rights under Regulation 261/2004. By 12 October 2026, monitoring instruments detected increased volcanic tremor and intense degassing from the ~~ash cloud as a “typical cleaning process~~ North-East crater, with tremor sources localized east of the ~~volcano’s interior” rather than an imminent explosive phase, though they warned that fine ash poses technical risks~~ Voragine crater at approximately 2,800 meters. While high-frequency ground oscillations were recorded in the northeastern sector, a yellow aviation color code remains in effect, and no disruptions to ~~jet engines.~~ operations at Catania's Vincenzo Bellini International Airport have been reported.

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