The Unpredictable Enemy

Volcanoes are a brooding tour de force that can unleash formidable problems for aviation and life itself during any eruption. Satu Dahl reports on the commercial impact of this natural phenomenon.

Ash clouds forming during volcanic eruptions can seriously damage critical aircraft systems. Never was this better appreciated than in 1982 when a British Airways Boeing 747 lost power on all four engines while flying in the vicinity of Mount Galunggung, a large Indonesian volcano while it was erupting. Thankfully, the crew managed to restart the powerplants and the aircraft was landed safely without further incidence.

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