Indonesia is facing a major air-travel disruption after Mount Anak Krakatau erupted repeatedly in the Sunda Strait, sending volcanic ash into airspace over Jakarta and neighbouring regions. As of September 7, more than 2,300 flights have been disrupted and over 270,000 passengers affected, according to Indonesian authorities.
Seven airports, including Jakarta’s Soekarno-Hatta International Airport and Halim Perdanakusuma Airport, remained closed on Monday because of the ash, with Soekarno-Hatta’s closure extended until an estimated 6 p.m. local time.
AirNav Indonesia said the closure periods are being revised dynamically based on airspace conditions and aviation safety assessments. The eruption has also affected daily life, with schools in Jakarta and Lampung shifting to remote learning and residents being advised to wear masks outdoors.
Indonesia’s Geological Agency has kept Anak Krakatau at Level III (Siaga/Alert) and warned that the probability of further eruptions remains high.
Ash Grounds Flights Across Indonesia
The disruption began after volcanic ash from Anak Krakatau spread into flight paths around western Indonesia. Eight airports were initially affected, including Soekarno-Hatta, Halim Perdanakusuma, Radin Inten II, Husein Sastranegara, Budiarto, Pondok Cabe, Muhammad Taufiq Kiemas and Pagar Alam. While Pagar Alam has since reopened, AirNav Indonesia confirmed on September 7 that Soekarno-Hatta and Halim would remain closed until an estimated 6 p.m., alongside five other airports.
The aviation disruption has grown considerably since the initial estimate of 1,558 affected flights and around 170,000 passengers. The latest figures indicate that more than 2,300 flights and 270,000 travellers have now been affected through cancellations, delays and diversions.
Indonesian Transport Minister Dudy Purwagandhi said changing wind conditions at different altitudes have made it difficult to predict the movement of the ash cloud and determine when flights can safely resume. Authorities have therefore continued to reassess airport operations rather than committing to fixed reopening times.
For passengers, the disruption has meant long waits, cancellations and the search for alternative routes. Indonesian authorities have also been preparing alternative airports and ground transport options as travellers attempt to continue their journeys while Jakarta’s main aviation gateway remains closed.
Why Anak Krakatau’s Ash Is a Major Risk
The concern extends beyond visibility. Volcanic ash contains tiny abrasive particles that can damage aircraft engines and other components, making flights through contaminated airspace dangerous. This is why aviation authorities have adopted a precautionary approach even though Anak Krakatau is more than 150 kilometres from Jakarta. AirNav said it is continuously monitoring the ash distribution and updating aviation information as conditions change.
The scale of the ash plume has also complicated the situation. Indonesia’s meteorological agency, BMKG, has intensified 24-hour monitoring of the eruption and its impact, using weather and satellite information to track the movement of volcanic ash.
Reports indicate that ash has reached altitudes of up to around 50,000 feet, putting multiple levels of the region’s airspace under scrutiny. Reuters reported that President Prabowo Subianto, while addressing the wider disaster situation, stressed the need for stronger disaster-mitigation funding as Indonesia deals with volcanic activity alongside other natural hazards.
The consequences have meanwhile moved beyond aviation. Jakarta and Lampung have shifted schools to remote learning as a precaution against ash exposure, while residents in affected areas have been urged to limit outdoor activity and wear masks. The Geological Agency has maintained a three-kilometre exclusion zone around the volcano and continues to warn of possible further eruptions.
The Krakatoa Legacy
Anak Krakatau, meaning “Child of Krakatau”, emerged from the remains of the original Krakatoa volcanic system following the catastrophic 1883 Krakatoa eruption, one of the most destructive volcanic events in recorded history. That eruption generated enormous explosions and tsunamis that killed more than 36,000 people.
Anak Krakatau has remained active for decades, but its history took another deadly turn in December 2018, when a collapse associated with an eruption triggered a tsunami along the Sunda Strait, killing hundreds of people. The current eruption has therefore attracted significant attention, although authorities are not reporting a comparable tsunami threat at present.
The latest episode began with renewed eruptive activity late last week. Indonesia’s Geological Agency said Anak Krakatau has remained at Level III since July 2, 2026, with Strombolian eruptions producing volcanic ash and incandescent material. On September 5, the volcano entered a more sustained eruptive phase accompanied by rumbling sounds and a visible red glow resembling a lava fountain.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
The Anak Krakatau eruption is a reminder that natural disasters rarely remain confined to the place where they begin. A volcanic eruption in the Sunda Strait has disrupted international and domestic travel, affected hundreds of thousands of passengers, forced schools to close physically and prompted communities to change their daily routines.
At the same time, the response shows why transparent communication, timely warnings and cooperation between disaster-management agencies, aviation authorities, airlines, schools and local communities matter.
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