NI flights halted over ash threat

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  • xman
    Admin
    • Sep 2006
    • 24007

    NI flights halted over ash threat


    Passengers due to travel from Northern Ireland's airports face disruption because of a volcanic ash cloud. A volcano eruption in Iceland sent the cloud of ash into the air. Air traffic controllers said it was moving south.

    All flights in and out of Belfast International and City airports have been cancelled.

    Dublin Airport passengers face delays and many flights have been cancelled. All passengers have been advised to contact their airlines prior to travel.

    The Air Traffic Control Service, NATS, said the decision to restrict flights had been made after advice from the Met Office as volcanic ash can damage aircraft engines.

    The eruption under a glacier in the Eyjafjallajoekull area of Iceland is the second in the country in less than a month.

    Forecasters believe the ash could take a number of days to disperse.

    Philip Avery from the Met Office said: "It is showing up on imagery at the moment, extending down as far as the Faroes but it looks as though the wind will drag it a good deal further south.

    "Nats has good cause to be very cautious about this because in about 1982 a British Airways jumbo had the unnerving experience of having all four engines shut down as it flew through a plume of volcanic ash."

    A Nats spokesman said: "The Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre has issued a forecast that the ash cloud from the volcanic eruption in Iceland will track over Europe tonight.


    "Nats is working with Eurocontrol and our colleagues in Europe's other air navigation service providers to take the appropriate action to ensure safety in accordance with international aviation policy."This article is from the BBC News website. ? British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.


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