Warning to pilots as Hawaii volcano unleashes massive ash plume

AIRCRAFT are being told to avoid airspace near Hawaii’s erupting volcano as an ash plume shoots more than 9km into the sky.

GEOLOGISTS have issued a “red” warning for pilots and air traffic controllers as an ash plume from Hawaii’s erupting Kilauea volcano shoots more than 9km into the sky.

The volcano, on Hawaii’s Big Island, exploded after two weeks of volcanic activity that spewed lava into nearby neighbourhoods, destroying 36 homes and structures.

The US Geological Survey warned “ballistic blocks” the size of microwave ovens had shot from the volcano.

The US Federal Aviation Administration has issued a ban on aircraft from entering airspace up to 9100m above the summit crater of the volcano. The ban applies to a 8km radius around the summit crater.

Incredible resident video shows lava exploding from a fissure in Puna, Hawaii, as the threat of a strong, explosive eruption at the top of Kilauea volcano looms. https://t.co/I9R0cZaNqN pic.twitter.com/vvhGA3kHld

— ABC News (@ABC) May 17, 2018

On Friday morning operations at the two biggest airports on the Big Island — in Hilo and in Kailua-Kona — were not affected.

Hawaiian Airlines said its flights were continuing to operate as scheduled and encouraged passengers to keep an eye on their flight status.

Kilauea, which is a top tourism drawcard on the Big Island, has already cost the local tourism industry millions of dollars since is began to spew lava two weeks ago.

The cost of cancellations from May until July has reached about $6.65 million, Ross Birch, executive director of the Big Island’s tourism board, told the Associated Press.

The rate of bookings for hotels and activities such as lava viewing, zip lining and glass-bottom boat rides have plummeted about 50 per cent, and some cruise ships have stopped coming into port, even on the other side of the island.

This is the “first leak we’re seeing out of the bucket,” Mr Birch told AP.

A dark ash plume rises from the Overlook Crater on Kilauea. Picture: AFP/US Geological Survey/HO

In recent times, tourism on the Big Island has been growing at a faster rate than Hawaii’s other islands, and last year drew about $3.3 billion in visitor spending.

Despite the volcanic activity, some intrepid tourists have been venturing into dangerous areas to take selfies with the molten lava, prompting stern warnings from officials.

“The fissures are deadly, very deadly. We’re currently in a condition red because of the increased ash in the area,” Alan Richmond, spokesman for the Hawaii Police Department, told People.

Lava illuminates volcanic gases from the Kilauea volcano at one of the fissures. Picture: Mario Tama/Getty Images/AFP

“We’ve had no injuries, which is the good news. The danger is that there will be rocks and debris falling further down into the crater and when the lava hits the water table, there’s an explosion. Everybody is on standby.

“It’s a dicey situation and no one knows how long it will last and how it will end, just dealing with Mother Nature.”

Most of the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, which is a top tourist attraction on the Big Island, has been closed since May 11.

A Hawaiian Volcano Observatory geologist investigates a huge crack in the road in Pahoa, Hawaii. Picture: US Geological Survey via AP

Kilauea is one of the world’s most active volcanoes, and the last time an eruption turned deadly was in 1924, when one person was killed as the volcano hurled rocks, ash and dust into the air for 17 days.

It’s one of five volcanoes on Hawaii’s Big Island, and the only one currently erupting.

If the ash cloud from the volcano does interrupt air traffic, it could wreck havoc on travel plans to Hawaii’s holiday islands.

In that case, travellers who had taken out travel insurance early may have some costs covered.

Travellers who took out insurance after the volcano started erupting could be out of luck.

“This is a prime example of why you should take out travel insurance as soon as you’ve

forked out for flights,” Travel Insurance Direct travel export Phil Sylvester said.

He said intending travellers who were concerned about being stranded in Hawaii should

contact their airline or tour provider about making alternative arrangements.

“Tahiti looks nice at this time of year,” he added.