Mount Etna eruption leaves flights cancelled as volcano triggers red alert

Mount Etna eruption leaves flights cancelled as the volcano triggers a red alert in Sicily, Italy, disrupting air operations around Catania. The eruption produced massive ash clouds and prompted authorities to elevate the aviation alert from orange to red, indicating a potential hazard to aircraft. According to La Sicilia, Catania Airport cancelled all incoming flights due to safety concerns, with FlightRadar24 showing arrivals as cancelled. ITA, Italy’s flagship carrier, said flights departing and arriving at the airport would be cancelled or rescheduled as the ash cloud continued to affect the region. Local reports and social media footage indicated ash began billowing around 7:45am and intensified just before 9am. Experts continued monitoring using visual and thermal cameras. Mount Etna, among Europe’s highest and most active stratovolcanoes, sits on the east coast of Sicily, between Messina and Catania. The INGV said it detected activity in the upper Valle del Leone on June 26.