A red alert has been issued and flights have been cancelled across Sicily as Mount Etna erupted, sending clouds of ash into the sky. Catania Airport, the region's main hub, has suspended all incoming flights due to safety concerns, according to local news site La Sicilia. Flight tracking service Flight Radar 24 confirmed that all arriving flights at Catania Airport were listed as cancelled.
Flight Disruptions and Airline Responses
Italy's largest airline, ITA, announced that all its flights to and from Catania Airport would be cancelled or rescheduled in response to the ongoing eruption. The ash cloud is moving across the region, prompting aviation warnings. The National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV), through its Etna Observatory, raised the aviation alert level from orange to red following the summit activity.
According to La Sicilia, intense volcanic ash emissions have prompted a warning that the phenomenon "is in full swing." A red alert indicates that an ash cloud poses a potential risk to aircraft. Experts are monitoring the situation using visual and thermal cameras installed on the volcano.
Timeline of the Eruption
Footage shared on social media shows the active volcano on Sicily's east coast. Ash reportedly began rising from the volcano at around 7:45 AM local time on July 5, 2026, and intensified just before 9 AM. The eruption has led to significant disruption to flights across Europe.
Mount Etna is one of Europe's tallest and most active stratovolcanoes, located on the east coast of Sicily in the province of Catania, between the cities of Messina and Catania. It is in an almost constant state of activity, with its last eruption recorded on January 1, 2026.
Recent Activity and Monitoring
In recent weeks, local reports noted a slow lava flow from a fracture that opened at around 3,000 meters at the base of the Northeast Crater. The INGV recorded activity in the upper Valle del Leone on June 26, 2026. The agency continues to monitor the volcano closely, using advanced cameras and sensors to track ash emissions and lava flows.
The eruption has caused widespread travel disruption, with passengers advised to check with their airlines for updates. The red alert remains in effect as authorities assess the situation.
