Shafaqna English- On Tuesday(11 Aug 2026), a substantial plume of volcanic ash emitted from Sicily’s Mount Etna—one of Europe’s most active volcanoes—was carried by atmospheric winds across the Mediterranean Sea, eventually drifting over the island nation of Malta. This unforeseen development prompted multiple airlines to cancel a number of scheduled flights to Malta, causing significant travel disruptions precisely at the peak of the summer tourist season, when visitor arrivals and flight frequencies are at their highest levels of the year. Malta International Airport announced on Facebook that it is currently facing flight disruptions due to volcanic ash clouds over the Maltese Islands, which are a result of recent activity at Mount Etna.