Eruption of Grimsvoetn volcano disrupts flights

Iceland's airspace temporarily closed down on Sunday after the violent eruption of the country's most active volcano. Spokeswoman for the airport administration, Hjordis Gudmundsdottir, told the French news agency that the closure affected “pretty much all of Iceland right now, at least for the next hours. ... Flights to and from Iceland are shutting down." 

Reuters/Gudmundur Ogmundsson

The decision came after Grimsvoetn, Iceland's most active volcano located at the heart of its biggest glacier Vatnajoekull, began erupting late Saturday, sending a plume of smoke and ash as high as 20 kilometres into the sky.

Winds remained fairly calm Sunday, appearing to send the ash cloud north and northeast, potentially threatening flights routed to the north of Iceland, Gudmundsdottir said.

Saturday's eruption began just over a year after the nearby Eyjafjoell volcano erupted, shutting down large swathes of European airspace for almost a month amid fears the volcanic ash could wreak havoc on aircraft engines.