BREAKING NEWS

Ash clouds cover W. Europe; Heathrow cancels 150 flights

By ASSOCIATED PRESS

APRIL 15, 2010 11:21

Ash clouds drifting from Iceland's spewing volcano disrupted air traffic across Northern Europe on Thursday as airports shut down and carriers canceled hundreds of flights in Britain, Ireland and the Nordic countries.

In Iceland, hundreds have fled from floodwaters rising since the volcano under the Eyjafjallajokull glacier erupted Wednesday for the second time in less than a month. As water gushed down the mountainside, rivers had risen by up to 10 feet (3 meters) by Wednesday night.

The volcano was sending up smoke and ash that posed "a significant safety threat to aircraft," Britain's National Air Traffic Service said, as visibility is compromised and debris can get sucked into airplane engines.

In Britain, flight were suspended in the English cities of Manchester and Birmingham, as well as in Northern Ireland's Belfast and the Scottish airports at Aberdeen, Glasgow and Edinburgh.

Europe's busiest airport — London's Heathrow — had at least 150 flights canceled, while London's Gatwick airport had 138 canceled by 8 a.m. (0700 GMT).

Most of the cancellations involved flights to and from northern airports.

France arrests teen after he said he wants to die a 'martyr' at Olympics

By REUTERS

04/24/2024 08:50 PM

Spain PM Sanchez says he is suspending public duties to "reflect"

By REUTERS

04/24/2024 08:41 PM

US to name former UN official as new Gaza aid envoy

By REUTERS

04/24/2024 07:33 PM

Iranian rapper who took part in Mahsa Amini protests sentenced to death

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF