September 6, 2026 | 02:33 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Transportation Minister Dudy Purwagandhi stated that six airports have been temporarily closed due to volcanic ash from the eruption of Mount Anak Krakatau, which poses risks to flight safety.
In an online press conference in Jakarta on Sunday, September 6, 2026, Dudy stated that the closures were implemented after the Ministry of Transportation received updates from the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) regarding the spread of volcanic ash that could disrupt flight operations.
Initially, the Ministry of Transportation closed five airports: Radin Inten II Airport in Lampung, Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Tangerang, Halim Perdanakusuma Airport in Jakarta, Pondok Cabe Airport in South Tangerang, and Budiarto Airport in Curug, Tangerang.
Following further field testing at 12:00 p.m. Western Indonesian Time (WIB), Husein Sastranegara Airport in Bandung was also confirmed to be affected by volcanic ash, prompting authorities to temporarily suspend flight operations at the facility as well.
"In the current situation, we would like to provide an update based on the information we obtained from testing at 12:00 WIB at Husein Sastranegara Airport in Bandung. It indicated that it had been impacted. Therefore, at 12:00 WIB, we declared Husein Sastranegara Airport in Bandung closed to flights," the Transportation Minister said.
Dudy explained that the decision to close the airports was based on continuous monitoring of field conditions, prioritizing flight safety and security for all air passengers.
The Ministry of Transportation continues to coordinate with relevant agencies, including the BMKG, the Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG), AirNav Indonesia, airport operators, and commercial airlines.
According to Dudy, all information regarding the movement of volcanic ash will be updated continuously so that stakeholders can take appropriate operational measures based on field conditions.
He urged airlines to prioritize safety and refrain from operating flights if atmospheric conditions remain unsafe due to the Mount Anak Krakatau eruption.
The Ministry of Transportation assured that joint monitoring remains ongoing with all stakeholders so that commercial flight services can resume normal operations once conditions are declared safe.
Read: KAI: Mount Anak Krakatau Eruption Has No Impact on Bandung Train Operations
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