Minangkabau International Airport has temporarily suspended flights due to the spread of volcanic ash from an erupting Mount Marapi.

Footage from March 28 shows passengers waiting at the airport.

REGION SIX AIRPORT AUTHORITY CLOSED MINANGKABAU INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT (BIM) PADANG PARIAMAN ACTIVITIES ON THURSDAY MORNING//THE CLOSURE WAS MADE DUE TO THE IMPACT OF THE DISTRIBUTION OF VOLCANIC ASH FROM THE ERUPTION OF MOUNT MARAPI WHICH DROPPED INTO THE MINANGKABAU AIRPORT AREA CAUSING A NUMBER OF FLIGHTS TO BE CANCELED//

MINANGKABAU AIRPORT PADANG PARIAMAN/WEST SUMATRA WAS CLOSED AGAIN BY THE REGION SIX AIRPORT AUTHORITY STARTING AT 10:21 PM DUE TO VOLCANIC ASH VERY HARMFUL FOR AIRCRAFT ENGINE//
TEMPORARY CLOSURE POLICY OF MINANGKABAU AIRPORT

THE CLOSURE OF MINANGKABAU AIRPORT WAS CARRIED OUT BY THE AIRPORT AUTHORITY UNTIL 2 PM DUE TO THE IMPACT OF THE DISTRIBUTION OF VOLCANIC ASH FROM MOUNT MARAPI WHICH WAS DIRECTING TO THE MINANGKABAU AIRPORT AREA//HOWEVER IF THE DISTRIBUTION OF VOLCANIC ASH DOES NOT REDUCE/THE CLOSURE OF MINANGKABAU AIRPORT COULD BE EXTENDED//

THIS CLOSURE IS THE FIFTH TIME IT HAS BEEN HOLDING/PREVIOUSLY IT WAS ALSO CLOSED ON 22 DECEMBER 2023/5 JANUARY/19 JANUARY 2024/29 FEBRUARY AND 28 FEBRUARY 2024//

CAPTAIN MEGI HELMIADI / HEAD OF AIRPORT AUTHORITY REGION

“It has been proven through a paper test that the distribution of Mount Marapi's volcanic ash has reached Bim Airport. We estimate that at 2 o'clock there will be no further eruptions, God willing, we hope that too. As we continue to evaluate and monitor, we hope that the distribution will subside or disappear completely”.