Indonesia's Anak Krakatau volcano erupts, halting flights at Jakarta airport

Indonesia's Mount Anak Krakatau erupted on September 6, 2026, spewing ash plumes up to 50,000 feet and forcing Jakarta's Soekarno-Hatta International Airport to suspend operations. The shutdown affected 301 flights and stranded over 22,000 passengers. While authorities ruled out an imminent tsunami risk, they established a 3-kilometer maritime exclusion zone and urged residents to wear masks to protect against ashfall.

Anak Krakatau eruption

• ▪The eruption of Mount Anak Krakatau produced a fountain of lava and booming sounds that could be heard up to 700 kilometers away, followed by two new eruptions on Sunday, September 6, 2026
• ▪Indonesia's Mount Anak Krakatau volcano erupted early on Sunday, September 6, 2026, following signs of activity that began late on Friday, September 4, 2026

Jakarta airport flight suspensions

• ▪The flight suspension at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport was extended multiple times, ultimately halting operations until 1:30 p.m. local time on Sunday, September 6, 2026
• ▪Soekarno-Hatta International Airport near Jakarta suspended flight operations on Sunday, September 6, 2026, due to the presence of volcanic ash from Mount Anak Krakatau
• ▪The flight suspensions at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport affected 301 flights, including 58 international flights, according to airport operator Angkasa Pura

Volcanic ash detection

• ▪Satellite imagery analyzed by Indonesia's volcanology agency and the Darwin Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre identified two distinct ash plumes rising to altitudes of 20,000 feet and 50,000 feet
• ▪Indonesia's Ministry of Transportation confirmed that a paper test conducted early on Sunday, September 6, 2026, showed positive results for volcanic ash in the Soekarno-Hatta International Airport area

Passenger disruption

• ▪The flight suspensions at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport disrupted travel for more than 22,000 passengers, leaving hundreds stranded at the terminal
• ▪Airlines including Singapore Airlines, Qantas, and Garuda Indonesia cancelled or delayed flights to and from Jakarta on Sunday, September 6, 2026, due to the volcanic ash

Safety warnings for residents

• ▪Port authorities prohibited vessels from approaching within a 3-kilometer exclusion zone around Mount Anak Krakatau's active crater in the Sunda Strait
• ▪Indonesia's disaster mitigation agency, BNPB, urged the public to remain calm, wear masks and eye protection, and reduce outdoor activities in areas affected by ashfall
• ▪Indonesia's disaster mitigation agency stated on Sunday, September 6, 2026, that there was no imminent risk of a tsunami from the Mount Anak Krakatau eruptions

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