Canceled flights aren’t really anything to get overly excited about — they happen pretty often — but I think its worth noting today’s cancelations on Alaska Airlines. 44 flights were canceled today between Alaska and several West Coast cities on account of a rising ash cloud from the Kasatochi volcano that erupted last week in the Aleutian islands.
Obviously volcanic ash in the air can lead to visibility problems for pilots. Even worse, debris can be ingested into the engines. Not really what you want happening in the midst of your in-flight entertainment. Travelers are obviously encouraged to check their flight status; volcanoes aren’t always predictable. As airline spokesman Marianne Lindsey said, “you never know, the volcano could erupt again.”