A volcanic eruption lasting roughly 25 hours disrupted air travel across a wide region, stranding an estimated 340,000 travelers as ash clouds forced widespread flight cancellations, according to aviation authorities tracking the disruption.

Airports across the affected region worked to rebook and accommodate the surge of stranded passengers, with airlines activating contingency plans for extended ground stops. Aviation safety officials emphasized that the flight suspensions reflect a conservative standard approach given the well-documented risks ash presents to aircraft engines.

The scale of disruption underscores how a single natural event can ripple through the global aviation system, given how tightly scheduled international air travel has become.