Aviation authorities in the United Kingdom have confirmed that flights will be grounded for a second day following the Icelandic volcano eruption.
At 8.30 a.m. British Summertime (BST) Friday, the air traffic control body NATS extended restrictions on UK airspace until at least 1 a.m. BST Saturday.
“However, a small number of services will be permitted into and out of Northern Ireland and western Scotland,”
reports the BBC.
There have been cancellations across Europe, amid fears that the volcanic ash could cause aeroplane engines to foul.
“Experts say the tiny particles of rock, glass and sand contained in the ash cloud from the still-erupting volcano could jam aircraft engines, as has happened in previous incidents of planes flying into plumes of volcanic ash,” says the BBC’s report.
NATS,
restricted all UK flights at noon Thursday, but allowed five flights overnight from North America into Belfast, Prestwick and Glasgow airports, because gaps became apparent in the dust cloud.
“The NATS update at 0830 said that flights between Northern Ireland and the western isles of Scotland to and from Glasgow and Prestwick would continue until 1900 on Friday, on a case-by-case basis,” says the BBC
NATS added that North Atlantic traffic to and from Glasgow, Prestwick and Belfast may also be allowed until then.
A further update is expected at 1 p.m. BST.