10th April 2021

Safety Decision to Shut down Operations at the Hewanorra International Airport due to ash plum heading north

By SLASPA

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At approximately 7:00 p.m. the MET Office alerted Air Traffic Services at HIA of a potential hazard, observed through satellite imagery, of a volcanic ash cloud heading north towards the runway.
Consequently, Air Traffic Services, through Airside Operations informed flight crew of three  aircrafts, preparing to depart the airport. These included; British Airways scheduled flight operations to London Gatwick and two corporate jets.
The flight crew of all three aircrafts were subsequently briefed by Met Office personnel. At 8:45 p.m. with the hazard remaining unchanged, SLASPA took a decision out of an abundance of caution and in the interest of safety, to shut down operations for the evening.
All relevant parties, particularly the Ministry of Health and the Office of the Commissioner of Police (matters of COVID 19 health protocols and curfew) were informed of the decision taken.
SLASPA alongside the MET Office will conduct an assessment of the conditions at the airfield and within airspace in morning, to determine the viability of operations for April 11, 2021.
The same will communicated via bulletin.

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