mexico volcano eruption grounds local air travel

Volcanic Eruption Grounds Air Travel Around Mexico City

The recent eruption of the Popocatapeti Volcano near Mexico City has caused both U.S. as well as Mexican air flights to be temporarily grounded due to the dramatic amounts of smoke and ash that have been shot into the atmosphere. Government officials in Mexico have placed an almost 8-mile safety radius around the area of volcanic eruption. There have been reports that at least six major U.S. air carriers have had to cancel flights departing from the Midwest as well major southern cities headed toward Mexico City until air conditions improve.

Passengers already waiting at the airport have had no choice but to get comfortable and wait it out because officials cannot say at this point exactly when it will be safe to allow normal air travel near the Popocatapeti Volcano to continue. This is not the first time in recent history, however, that air travel has been suspended due to volcanic eruption. Three years ago, a volcanic cloud that hovered over Iceland caused international air travel to be suspended in the largest shut-down of airline travel since the 1940s during the height of World War II fighting. Millions of airline passengers camped out at airports for several days until the atmosphere was deemed safe again for flying.

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Volcano eruption grounds US and Mexican flights
http://www.euronews.com/2013/07/05/volcano-eruption-grounds-us-and-mexican-flights/