Call for an instant quote 0345 90 80 161
Open Mon to Fri 09:00 - 17:30 | Sat 09:00 - 16:00 (GMT)
28 April 2011 12:37
Aviation authorities were right to ground commercial jets for seven days after last year's volcanic eruption in Iceland, a study has claimed
Researchers who analysed samples of volcanic ash from last year's eruption in Iceland have claimed that the particles were capable of causing an air disaster.
In a report, published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the experts conclude that the decision of aviation authorities to ground commercial jets for seven days after the eruption at Eyjafjallajokull was justified.
The scientific study claims that the "sharp and abrasive" fine-grained ash particles had the potential to sandblast aircraft windows, restricting visibility, and could have also stalled engines.
Safety concerns after the eruption on April 14 last year led to the decision to ground flights, disrupting travel for 10 million passengers and costing between £1.3 billion and £2.2 billion - highlighting the need for adequate travel insurance to avoid inconvenience.
The explosive nature of the eruption was caused by glacial meltwater coming into contact with hot volcanic magma.
Tiny pieces of extremely hard, abrasive material were ejected to heights of more than nine kilometres and carried as far as Russia.
Fears over volcanic ash arose from a previous incident in 1982 when a British Airways 747 flew through debris from the eruption of Mount Galunggung in Indonesia.
The pilot reported sparks from the windows and wings, and all four engines failed when melted ash coated their interior.
14 July 2018
Too many passengers heading abroad this summer will be travelling without adequate protection for when an airline goes bust, a new study has shown.
[more...]
13 July 2018
The mother of Bradley Lowery has welcomed the news that a drug used to help treat her son will soon be made available for other patients on the NHS.
12 July 2018
British GPs have prevented thousands of strokes after learning how to better identify and treat a common heart condition, research has shown.
11 July 2018
London City Airport is considering lodging an application to increase flight and passenger numbers, its boss has revealed.
10 July 2018
Captain Harry Kane is leading England's unexpected bid for glory, and is hoping to inspire the next generation of footballers by going all the way in Russia.
07 July 2018
Experts have warned that a lack of rigorous testing of skin cancer detection apps is putting the public at risk.
06 July 2018
Easyjet has added to worries that travellers are set for a summer of chaos, revealing that nearly 1,300 flights were cancelled last month.
05 July 2018
Soaring temperatures across the UK have led to a surge of asthma sufferers calling a dedicated asthma helpline, a charity has revealed.
04 July 2018
Strikes across Europe led Ryanair to cancel over 1,000 flights in June, the budget airline has revealed.
03 July 2018
Sarcoma cancer is "more common than previously thought" with 15 people in the UK diagnosed with the illness every day, a charity has warned.
30 June 2018
The UK is set to scorch this weekend as the heatwave continues and temperatures stay well in the 30s.
29 June 2018
Passengers travelling to Heathrow this summer could continue to face lengthy queues, a top Home Office official has warned.