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| Version 19 | Version 20 |
|---|---|
| Dust from volcano closes airports | Dust from volcano closes airports |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| All flights to and from Scotland's airports have been grounded as a plume of volcanic ash drifts across much of northern Europe. | All flights to and from Scotland's airports have been grounded as a plume of volcanic ash drifts across much of northern Europe. |
| Dust from the eruption in Iceland presents a serious risk to aircraft. | Dust from the eruption in Iceland presents a serious risk to aircraft. |
| All Scottish airports have been closed although search and rescue helicopters are still able to fly as long as they do not need to rely on instruments. | All Scottish airports have been closed although search and rescue helicopters are still able to fly as long as they do not need to rely on instruments. |
| Passengers should not travel to the airports. All arriving and departing flights are currently suspended. | Passengers should not travel to the airports. All arriving and departing flights are currently suspended. |
| A BAA spokeswoman said: "Following advice from the Met Office, the National Air Traffic Service (Nats) has introduced restrictions to UK airspace this morning as a result of volcanic ash drifting across the United Kingdom from Iceland. | A BAA spokeswoman said: "Following advice from the Met Office, the National Air Traffic Service (Nats) has introduced restrictions to UK airspace this morning as a result of volcanic ash drifting across the United Kingdom from Iceland. |
| Nats is working with Eurocontrol and our colleagues in Europe's other air navigation service providers to take the appropriate action to ensure safety National Air Traffic Service spokesman Airport 'eerie' amid ash chaos Volcanic ash: Your travel stories Volcanic role in Scots famine What are passengers' rights? BBC travel news | Nats is working with Eurocontrol and our colleagues in Europe's other air navigation service providers to take the appropriate action to ensure safety National Air Traffic Service spokesman Airport 'eerie' amid ash chaos Volcanic ash: Your travel stories Volcanic role in Scots famine What are passengers' rights? BBC travel news |
| "These measures currently affect Aberdeen, Edinburgh and Glasgow airports which are closed but may also affect other parts of the UK later today. | "These measures currently affect Aberdeen, Edinburgh and Glasgow airports which are closed but may also affect other parts of the UK later today. |
| "Passengers intending to fly today are asked to contact their airline for further information and should expect disruption in the coming hours." | "Passengers intending to fly today are asked to contact their airline for further information and should expect disruption in the coming hours." |
| Airlines also issued warnings of potential disruption. | Airlines also issued warnings of potential disruption. |
| An EasyJet spokeswoman said: "Following the eruption of a volcano in Iceland yesterday, an ash plume has entered UK and Scandinavian airspace overnight. | An EasyJet spokeswoman said: "Following the eruption of a volcano in Iceland yesterday, an ash plume has entered UK and Scandinavian airspace overnight. |
| "As a result Nats have closed parts of UK airspace and this is causing significant disruption to all airlines due to operate flights to and from the UK today. | "As a result Nats have closed parts of UK airspace and this is causing significant disruption to all airlines due to operate flights to and from the UK today. |
| "EasyJet passengers are advised to check the website before they leave for the airport for any disruption information." | "EasyJet passengers are advised to check the website before they leave for the airport for any disruption information." |
| 'Unnerving experience' | 'Unnerving experience' |
| The eruption under a glacier in the Eyjafjallajoekull area of Iceland is the second in Iceland in less than a month. | The eruption under a glacier in the Eyjafjallajoekull area of Iceland is the second in Iceland in less than a month. |
| A resident of Shetland said she had smelled the ash, describing it as "sulphurous". | |
| Forecasters believe the ash could take a number of days to disperse. | Forecasters believe the ash could take a number of days to disperse. |
| Philip Avery from the Met Office said: "It is showing up on imagery at the moment, extending down as far as the Faroes but it looks as though the wind will drag it a good deal further south. | Philip Avery from the Met Office said: "It is showing up on imagery at the moment, extending down as far as the Faroes but it looks as though the wind will drag it a good deal further south. |
| Glasgow Airport has been left deserted after the eruption | Glasgow Airport has been left deserted after the eruption |
| "Nats has good cause to be very cautious about this because in about 1982 a British Airways jumbo had the unnerving experience of having all four engines shut down as it flew through a plume of volcanic ash." | "Nats has good cause to be very cautious about this because in about 1982 a British Airways jumbo had the unnerving experience of having all four engines shut down as it flew through a plume of volcanic ash." |
| One passenger at Glasgow Airport told BBC Radio's Good Morning Scotland programme: "We were here at 5am and were told to go back home. We went home and phoned Thomsons who advised us to come back in because the flight was scheduled to go. | One passenger at Glasgow Airport told BBC Radio's Good Morning Scotland programme: "We were here at 5am and were told to go back home. We went home and phoned Thomsons who advised us to come back in because the flight was scheduled to go. |
| "So we've come back in and now we've been told to go back home again." | "So we've come back in and now we've been told to go back home again." |
| Another passenger said: "I'm meant to be going to Lanzarote. We've travelled from Oban, leaving at 3am. Now we've decided we might as well just go home and do a bit of gardening." | Another passenger said: "I'm meant to be going to Lanzarote. We've travelled from Oban, leaving at 3am. Now we've decided we might as well just go home and do a bit of gardening." |
| Aberdeen Airport spokeswoman Sarah Campbell said there were more journalists and staff there than passengers. | Aberdeen Airport spokeswoman Sarah Campbell said there were more journalists and staff there than passengers. |
| VOLCANIC ASH CLOUD The eruption in the Eyjafjallajoekull area is the second to occur in a monthThis eruption has released ash to significantly greater heightsVolcanic ash contains tiny particles of rock and even glass, which can wreak havoc with machineryA 1982 BA flight unknowingly flew into an ash cloud, shutting down all four engines Animated guide: Volcanoes BBC travel news Eruption site webcam | |
| Aviation expert Jim Ferguson said: "Volcanic ash and aeroplanes do not mix. | Aviation expert Jim Ferguson said: "Volcanic ash and aeroplanes do not mix. |
| "There was at least one British Airways 747 that turned itself into the world's biggest glider when it picked up a lot of ash over Indonesia and Indonesia had not notified anyone of the problem. | "There was at least one British Airways 747 that turned itself into the world's biggest glider when it picked up a lot of ash over Indonesia and Indonesia had not notified anyone of the problem. |
| "The crew were able to eventually land the aircraft safely but there was an awful lot of people in the aviation industry thought they were headed for the water." | "The crew were able to eventually land the aircraft safely but there was an awful lot of people in the aviation industry thought they were headed for the water." |
| A Nats spokesman said: "The Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre has issued a forecast that the ash cloud from the volcanic eruption in Iceland will track over Europe tonight. | A Nats spokesman said: "The Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre has issued a forecast that the ash cloud from the volcanic eruption in Iceland will track over Europe tonight. |
| "Nats is working with Eurocontrol and our colleagues in Europe's other air navigation service providers to take the appropriate action to ensure safety in accordance with international aviation policy." | "Nats is working with Eurocontrol and our colleagues in Europe's other air navigation service providers to take the appropriate action to ensure safety in accordance with international aviation policy." |
| The Ministry of Defence said it was assessing what effect the dust will have on Exercise Joint Warrior - Europe's largest military training exercise which started on Monday. | The Ministry of Defence said it was assessing what effect the dust will have on Exercise Joint Warrior - Europe's largest military training exercise which started on Monday. |
| Large numbers of the Nato aircraft and crews taking part were flying from RAF stations at Kinloss and Lossiemouth. | Large numbers of the Nato aircraft and crews taking part were flying from RAF stations at Kinloss and Lossiemouth. |
| Elements of the training takes place around Cape Wrath in the north of Scotland. | Elements of the training takes place around Cape Wrath in the north of Scotland. |
| Rail demand | Rail demand |
| The European air safety body, Eurocontrol, said the cloud of ash had reached 55,000ft and was expected to move through northern UK and Scotland by 1300 BST. | The European air safety body, Eurocontrol, said the cloud of ash had reached 55,000ft and was expected to move through northern UK and Scotland by 1300 BST. |
| Meanwhile, the disruption caused by the ash has caused a significant upturn in demand for rail services. | Meanwhile, the disruption caused by the ash has caused a significant upturn in demand for rail services. |
| ScotRail, which operates 95% of services within Scotland plus the overnight Caledonian Sleepers, said there had been a "surge in demand". | ScotRail, which operates 95% of services within Scotland plus the overnight Caledonian Sleepers, said there had been a "surge in demand". |
| A spokeswoman said: "Our telesales department, which also sells tickets for other train operators, has seen a near 300% increase in calls. | A spokeswoman said: "Our telesales department, which also sells tickets for other train operators, has seen a near 300% increase in calls. |
| "The surge in demand is mostly for travel today to England from people whose UK domestic flights have been cancelled and are switching to rail. | "The surge in demand is mostly for travel today to England from people whose UK domestic flights have been cancelled and are switching to rail. |
| "There have been queues at travel centres as people buy tickets to travel to London in particular. | "There have been queues at travel centres as people buy tickets to travel to London in particular. |
| "Demand for our overnight Sleeper services is massive, with this evening's northbound services virtually fully booked and only a handful of seats left southbound." | "Demand for our overnight Sleeper services is massive, with this evening's northbound services virtually fully booked and only a handful of seats left southbound." |
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