Ash falls over Jakarta as stranded Australians wait for flights home

Ash from Mount Anak Krakatau has forced widespread flight disruptions in Indonesia, leaving stranded travelers waiting in Jakarta. Qantas said services will resume only when conditions allow, while Indonesian authorities warned that further eruptions are highly likely. Australian passenger Liz Kendall has spent three days in a basic Jakarta hotel, watching ash fall and waiting to return after her Saturday Qantas flight was canceled. Her trip had been planned as a three-week sailing journey back to Australia. Qantas has canceled services to Jakarta from Melbourne and Sydney and said it is monitoring conditions closely. Indonesia’s transport ministry said about 170,000 passengers were affected, and Soekarno Hatta plus seven other airports remained closed.