Hundreds of travellers remain stranded in Indonesia as flights are cancelled over safety concerns about the eruption of a volcano that has killed at least nine people.
Qantas, Jetstar and Virgin are continuing to monitor weather conditions before rescheduling flights to and from Bali.
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On Sunday Mount Lewotobi Laki-laki volcano erupted, spewing an ash column 9km high.
The eruption, about 500km from Bali, prompted the evacuation of more than 15,000 people close to the crater.
But why can’t planes fly through volcanic ash?
Aviation expert Patrick Murray explained on The Conversation, “Volcanic ash particles are very, very abrasive. They can cause permanent damage to windscreens in the aircraft and can even make windscreens look opaque – like someone has gone over them with sandpaper.”
The main issue however, is volcanic ash can cause plane engines to stall by disrupting airflow, Murray said.
A Bureau of Meteorology spokesperson said the volcano has continued to erupt over the past fortnight. The spokesperson said volcanic ash is approaching Denpasar airport and airspace.
“Airlines and airport operators continue to conduct their own risk assessment of the situation,” they said.
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