Why can volcanic ash shut down airplanes?
Quick Answer
Ash is made of tiny sharp rock and glass particles that can damage jet engines, sensors, and windshields. Even thin ash clouds can be dangerous at cruising altitude.
The Full Story
Volcanic ash is not soft soot; it is abrasive microscopic fragments of rock and glass. When a jet flies through an ash cloud, the particles can melt inside the engine and then coat internal parts, causing power loss or failure. Ash can also scratch cockpit windows and interfere with instruments. The 2010 Eyjafjallajökull eruption in Iceland caused widespread aviation disruption across Europe because of these risks. That event showed how a volcano can affect transportation far beyond the eruption site.
Key Facts
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