The Eyjafjallajökull volcano in Iceland erupted on April 14-16, 2010, ejecting a plume of ash and fine particles into the atmosphere. The ash cloud caused major disruption to air travel across Northern Europe. Over the next few days, flight cancellations multiplied as the ash spread south and east, eventually closing entire airspaces including the UK, Ireland, Scandinavia, Belgium, the Netherlands, and northern France and Poland. By April 15th, tens of thousands of passengers had been stranded as the eruption created the worst air travel delays since 9/11. Public health officials also warned the ash could worsen lung conditions for vulnerable people.
2. The volcano currently erupting on Iceland has become an instant tourist attraction.The Guardian: Friday 2, April 2010“Within 24 hours of the eruption, I was getting emails from around the world asking about flying up to see it. We're just a small company, but we have to catch the moment.“BirgirHaraldsson, Nordurflug helicopter company
3. Iceland hit by second volcanic eruption in one monthBBC: Wednesday, 14 April 2010Eyjafjallajökull Volcano, Iceland awakes for the first time since January 1823. It has been stirring since mid- March 2010
4. “The eruption ejected the plume, which is made up of fine rock particles, up to 11km into the atmosphere”David Rothery, VolcanologistThe Open UniversityWednesday, 14 April 2010
5. The Met Office is continuing to monitor the spread of the ash plume from the eruption of the Eyjafjallajökull volcano on Iceland.MetOffice Website: Thursday, 14 April 14:00 UK
7. The entirety of UK airspace will be closed from noon on ThursdayNational Air Traffic Services: Thursday, 15 April 2010 10:45 UKPartial or planned closures:France (northern airspace)Poland (northern airspace) Airspace closed:UKRep of IrelandNorwayDenmarkSwedenBelgiumNetherlandsFinland
9. Navy flies critically ill patient to London.BBC: Thursday, 15 April 2010 12:35 UKA critically ill patient had to be flown from Scotland to London by military helicopter after volcanic ash grounded planes in the UK
10. Tens of thousands of passengers have been left stranded as hundreds of flights were cancelled and airports shut down throughout the day. The Telegraph: 15 April, 2010 14:30 UK
11. Iceland’s volcanic ash disruption prompts rush to rail Travel firms have seen bookings surge as people seek different travel arrangements after planes were grounded in the UK because of volcanic ashBBC Website: 15 April 2010 15:00 UK
12. Eurostar trains between London and Paris and Brussels are sold out. ABC News Network, Thursday 15 April 2010
13. Volcanic dust cloud suspends military training BBC: Thursday, 15 April 2010 15:19 UKAll routine military air training in UK airspace has been suspended as a plume of volcanic ash drifts across much of northern Europe.
14. A huge volcanic eruption in Iceland is set to cause travel chaos for over a million air passengers.The Guardian: Thursday, 15 April 2010: 16:30 UK
15. Passengers face insurance confusionBBC: Thursday, April 15 16:30 UKInsurance won't cover acts of God.London Evening Standard: Thursday, April 15 2010
16. U.K. shuts airports as Iceland eruption chokes skies.Bloomberg: Thursday, April 15, 2010, 17:00 UK
17. Volcanic ash hits UK election campaigning in Scotland BBC :Thursday, 15 April 2010 17:19 UK
19. Volcanic Ash turns the evening sky redYahoo News: Thursday, April 15 19:46 UK
20. Sport hit by volcanic ash cloud from IcelandBBC: Thursday, 15 April 2010 22:51 UKBritish sports teams have been hit by travel problems after flights were grounded around the UK because of ash from the volcanic eruption in Iceland.
22. European flights could be grounded for 48 hours by ash.BBC Thursday, 15 April 2010 23:22 UK
23. We would advise people living with a lung condition in affected areas to carry their medication as a precaution as they may experience a short-term worsening of symptomsProfessor Malcolm Green, British Lung FoundationWe would advise people living with a lung condition in affected areas to carry their medication as a precaution as they may experience a short-term worsening of symptomsProfessor Malcolm Green, British Lung Foundation“We would advise people living with a lung condition in affected areas to carry their medication as a precaution as they may experience a short-term worsening of symptoms”.Professor Malcolm Green, British Lung FoundationFriday, 16 April 2010
24. Volcanic Ash Creates Air-Travel Chaos: Worst Delays Since 9/11ABC News Network: 15 April 2010