Study Finds Air Traffic KO Due to Iceland Volcanic Ash "Right" Call

Last year, air traffic between North America and Europe, as well as flights within Europe, were put on hold during an eruption of a volcano in Iceland. The cancellations were controversial, cost the airlines a bundle, and led to a significant disruption of travel plans. In some quarters, the decision to prohibit commercial aircraft from flying through the volcanic ash was met with skepticism. That negative sensibility increased in magnitude as more and more travelers became inconvenienced.

The BBC reported today on the findings of a scientific study into the volcanic ash. The study's conclusion, briefly speaking, was that the decision to block airline flights through the danger zone was the "right" decision. Small particles of ash could have melted in jet engines, causing the aircraft to fall in mid-flight.

One wonders what would have happened if the cloud of volcanic ash remained in stasis over Western Europe and the North Atlantic. It's a long flight from New York to London when one flies to the UK via Asia and Africa.

The photo shows dust from the volcano Eyjafjallajokull descending on a rural area of Iceland last year.