Airlines not taking chances with Tongas erupting volcano - TVNZ 14 JANUARY 2015. As steam and gas continue to belch skyward, airlines are taking no chances flying near an underwater volcano erupting in Tonga. Hundreds of passengers remain stranded while plume erupts from the volcano at a height of about 5,000 feet near Tongas mainland. Civil Aviation Authoritys Chief Meteorological Officer, Peter Lechner, says volcanic ash is just too dangerous to fly through. Generally speaking the airlines will take a very conservative view on things and if they can smell sulphur dioxide they will not take the chance that there might be ash associated with it, he told ONE News. As well as domestic flights, four return Air New Zealand flights have been disrupted, including one this morning which was forced to turn back. A flight was rescheduled this afternoon in a bid to reduce the backlog of more than 600 passengers but many remain stuck at the airport. Manukau East MP Jenny Salesa was one of the lucky ones - she managed to check-in after her flight was cancelled yesterday. Its a bit of a nuisance that it has been disruptive to flights but it is part of the reality of Tonga, she said. The volcano, which lies on the Pacific faultline, started erupting last month and has exploded further in recent days. Hunga Ha-Apai first erupted in 2009. Tongas tourism industry is keen to get flights back on track, with one expected to land later tonight. tvnz.co.nz/world-news/air-nz-confident-tonga-bound-flight-able-land-video-6218290
Posted on: Wed, 14 Jan 2015 06:38:38 +0000
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