EASYJET passengers face huge delays following the eruption of Mount Etna in Sicily.
The eruption of the active volcano has affected a number of flights across Europe.
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The airspace over Catalania in Sicily has been restricted due to the potential threat to aircraft.
Eurocontrol in Brussels has said in a statement: “An eruption of volcano Etna has started.
“The height of the plume at the moment is up to FL140 [14,000 feet] and seems to be composed mainly by steam.
“Code is red.”
Catania Fontanarossa Airport is currently facing delays on average of 144 minutes to departures and 116 minutes to arrivals, according to Flightradar.
Passenger Celine tweeted: “We had to wait 1h in the plane as the Etna was spitting smoke but the pilot opened the cockpit for everyone interested and we were even served free water.”
Another passenger said they had been delayed two hours at Dusseldorf Airport due to the eruption.
He tweeted: “My flight with @easyJet is delayed by almost 2 hours because of this story.”
According to the Independent, easyJet flights to the island from Bristol, Luton and Manchester have already seen delays over an hour.
A statement from the airline explained their flight was delayed to to the “air traffic control restrictions” following the eruption.
They added: “The disruption is beyond our control and is considered an extraordinary circumstance.”
Europe’s tallest active volcano is also a popular destination for hikers on the Mediterranean island.
Etna is one of the most active volcanoes in the world and is in an almost constant sate of activity with a history of violent eruptions.
Etna last erupted in March 2018, sending flaming molten rock as high as 500ft (150m) in the air.
An eruption in 2017 injured eight people covering them with steam and burning boulders.
The most destructive eruption took place in March 1669 and produced lava flows that destroyed at least 10 villages on its southern flank.
Fears that the volcano could cause a tsunami in the Mediterranean have been expressed by experts.
The southeastern slope is currently sliding into the Med Sea, which could result in the natural disaster following a violent eruption.
Sun Online Travel contacted easyJet for comment.
