Around 140 Brussels Airlines passengers have been left in Sicily after volcanic ash from Mount Etna forced the cancellation of their Saturday evening flight from Catania to Brussels Airport. The airline said the service was due to arrive in Brussels at 21:15 on 26 September.
The flight SN3131 from Brussels (Airbus A319 registered OO-SSU) was diverted to Palermo after Catania Airport suspended arrivals and departures until at least 12:00 on Sunday, 27 September, its operator said. The restrictions follow ash emissions from Etna, although the reopening time may change as conditions are reassessed.
Brussels Airlines spokesperson Joëlle Neeb said the stranded passengers could return on Sunday or Monday. The airline has cancelled its planned Sunday departure from Catania, while another service scheduled to arrive in Brussels on Sunday is being routed via Palermo.
TUI has also diverted a Catania service to Palermo. Passengers on flights redirected to the western Sicilian airport are being transferred by bus, adding a lengthy ground journey to the disruption.
Source: ansa.it