Underwater eruption disrupts Tonga flights
Smoke billowing from an underwater volcanic eruption in Tonga has disrupted several flights in the region, causing cancellations and diversions by Virgin Australia, Air New Zealand and Fiji Airways.
Virgin says it is hopeful of resuming Tonga flights today.
A Virgin spokesman said the ash cloud was expected to clear by the morning and the airline would lay on an additional service today to re-accommodate displaced passengers.
Virgin had cancelled a Sydney-Tonga flight and a Tonga-Auckland service yesterday.
Both AirNZ and Fiji Airways have cancelled or rerouted flights this week.
Reports said smoke from Tonga’s Hung Ha’apai volcano reached as high as 20,000 feet.
Brad Scott, a volcanologist at New Zealand agency GNS Science, said volcanic activity had been recorded at the site for several weeks.
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