Several international flights from Costa Rica’s Juan Santamaría International Airport were delayed Wednesday morning due to ash spewing from Turrialba Volcano.
At least five flights were delayed and one diverted, according to La Nación. A spokesperson for Aeris, the company that operates the airport, confirmed to the daily that the airport remains fully operational.
Passengers can monitor their flight status with their airline and on the airport’s website.
The National Meteorological Institute reported Wednesday morning that volcanic ash from Turrialba reached up to 5,000 meters above sea level.
#IMN_VTurrialba Pronóstico de dispersión de ceniza de presentarse una erupción en el Volcán Turrialbahttps://t.co/tpraISm1kd pic.twitter.com/GB2KgWHAKh
— IMN, Costa Rica (@IMNCR) December 12, 2018
Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO) is located 67 km away from Turrialba and has previously faced delays due to volcanic activity. In 2015, about 7,000 travelers were stranded due to eruptions.
According to the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), “volcanic ash in the atmosphere may pose a serious hazard to aircraft in flight” due to its composition of abrasive substances and corrosive chemicals.
Watch live camera footage of the Turrialba Volcano on the website of the Volcanological and Seismological Observatory of Costa Rica (OVSICORI).
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