A volcanic ash cloud from Anak Krakatau forced Jakarta’s main international airport to stop flights on Sunday, September 6, disrupting hundreds of departures and arrivals across Indonesia and beyond.
Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, the country’s busiest international gateway, repeatedly extended its suspension as ash remained in the surrounding airspace. The disruption spread well beyond Jakarta, affecting domestic connections and international routes to cities including Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Sydney, and Doha.
Editor’s note: This developing story was last verified at 3:39 a.m. Pacific time on September 6, 2026. Airport operating times and individual flight statuses may continue to change.
What happened at Jakarta’s airport
Anak Krakatau, the active volcanic island in the Sunda Strait between Java and Sumatra, had shown continuous eruptive activity since late Friday. By early Sunday, volcanic ash had reached the airspace around Jakarta, prompting aviation authorities to suspend operations at Soekarno-Hatta and several other airports.
Indonesia’s National Disaster Management Agency, known as BNPB, initially listed four temporary airport closures: Soekarno-Hatta, Halim Perdanakusuma, Radin Inten II in Lampung, and Budiarto Curug. Later reporting from Reuters said six airports had suspended operations as the disruption expanded.
BNPB said the closures were a safety measure and warned that each airport’s status could change based on the ash plume, wind, airspace conditions, and continuing aviation monitoring. Soekarno-Hatta’s closure was extended several times, ultimately through at least 5:30 p.m. local time in the latest update available during our verification.
How many flights and travelers were affected
The totals changed quickly as airlines adjusted their schedules. Reuters reported that airport operator Angkasa Pura counted 301 affected flights, including 58 international services. The Associated Press reported 516 disrupted flight movements across the wider system by mid-afternoon, including 202 at Soekarno-Hatta affecting about 22,800 passengers.
Those figures measure somewhat different scopes and were collected at different points in a fast-moving day, so they should not be treated as a contradiction or a final total. The practical takeaway is simpler: the closure was large enough to disrupt aircraft rotations, crews, gates, and connecting itineraries even after airports began reopening.
Singapore Airlines and Malaysia Airlines canceled Jakarta flights for the rest of Sunday, according to Reuters. Qantas also confirmed disruptions and cancellations involving Jakarta. Travelers connecting through other Indonesian airports, including Bali and Medan, were affected as aircraft and schedules shifted.
Why volcanic ash stops flights
Volcanic ash is not ordinary smoke. It contains tiny, abrasive particles of rock and glass that can damage aircraft windscreens, sensors, ventilation systems, and engines. Inside a hot jet engine, ash can melt and coat internal parts, reducing airflow and potentially causing a loss of power.
That is why airports may close even when the volcano is far away and conditions on the ground do not look dramatic. Anak Krakatau is roughly 110 miles from Jakarta, but winds carried ash into heavily used airspace. Satellite monitoring detected one plume around 20,000 feet and another reaching approximately 50,000 feet, according to AP and Indonesian authorities.
The volcano remained at Level III, the second-highest alert level. Officials said there were no reported casualties and no evacuation order, and BNPB said the current activity was not expected to cause a large collapse capable of triggering a tsunami. Authorities still told residents, visitors, fishers, and boat operators to stay at least three kilometers, or about two miles, from the active crater.
What affected travelers should do now
If you are booked to fly to, from, or through Jakarta, check your flight directly with the operating airline before leaving for the airport. A general airport reopening does not mean every delayed or canceled flight will operate immediately, because airlines still have to reposition aircraft and crews.
- Use your airline’s app or website rather than relying only on a third-party itinerary notification.
- Check every segment separately if your trip includes a domestic connection in Indonesia.
- Do not cancel the ticket yourself until you understand the airline’s waiver, rebooking, or refund options.
- Save receipts for hotels, meals, and transportation in case your airline or travel insurance covers eligible disruption expenses.
- Allow extra connection time over the next day or two, since delays may continue after the ash clears.
Travelers can also monitor the official Soekarno-Hatta airport website, but an airline’s own flight-status page remains the best source for a specific reservation.
The disruption may outlast the closure
Volcanic ash can move rapidly as winds change, which makes a firm recovery time difficult to promise. Indonesian authorities continued monitoring the plume, while BNPB said it planned weather-modification operations that could encourage rain and help wash ash from affected areas.
Even if Soekarno-Hatta resumes normal runway operations, travelers should expect rolling delays and cancellations while airlines rebuild their schedules. Anyone flying through Jakarta on September 6 or 7 should verify the trip before heading out and keep plans flexible until the operating airline confirms the flight.
