Flight activity across western Indonesia shifted noticeably after the eruption of Mount Anak Krakatau in the Sunda Strait disrupted operations at several airports, including Soekarno-Hatta International Airport.
What FlightRadar24 Showed
Monitoring via the FlightRadar24 app on Sunday, September 6, 2026, showed several aircraft near the Jakarta area taking flight paths that steered clear of the Sunda Strait region. Air traffic also appeared noticeably lighter than usual around Soekarno-Hatta Airport and the airspace leading toward Lampung.
This pattern stood in sharp contrast to other regions. Flight activity remained fairly busy around Surabaya, Bali, and Singapore, with some aircraft observed being diverted toward Singapore instead.
Based on the tracking data, several aircraft that would normally be en route toward Jakarta were seen changing course to steer away from the Sunda Strait area entirely, actively avoiding the airspace around both Soekarno-Hatta Airport and Radin Inten II Airport in Lampung.
Why This Is Happening
This disruption comes as volcanic ash from the Anak Krakatau eruption was detected spreading across several regions. The eruption reportedly produced two separate ash columns moving in different directions.
One ash column reached an altitude of roughly 20,000 feet and moved northeast, while a second, larger column reached approximately 50,000 feet and moved west and northwest, covering parts of Banten, Lampung, Bengkulu, the southern Sunda Strait, and Indian Ocean waters west of Sumatra.
Airport Closures and Passenger Impact
Soekarno-Hatta Airport had previously suspended flight operations temporarily due to indications of volcanic ash in the airport area. Tens of thousands of passengers were affected by the closure, which began in the early hours of the morning.
The operational suspension was subsequently extended until 1:30 PM Western Indonesia Time (WIB) on Sunday, September 6, 2026. Airport management has urged prospective passengers to check flight status directly through official airline channels before heading to the airport.
What This Means for Travelers
If you have travel plans through Jakarta, Lampung, Bandung, or other airports in western Indonesia in the coming days, it’s essential to check your flight status directly with your airline before departing for the airport, as volcanic ash conditions can shift rapidly and airport closures may extend depending on how the ash disperses. Given how unpredictable volcanic ash situations can be, building in extra flexibility for your travel plans is strongly advised until operations fully normalize.
This is a developing situation. Conditions and flight schedules may continue to change as authorities monitor the volcanic ash spread.
