TOKYO (AFP) - Flights in Japan were cancelled or diverted on Thursday to avoid a cloud of ash and smoke spewing from an erupting volcano in the south.
Japan Airlines and All Nippon Airways warned passengers of "a number of cancellations and changed destinations" on routes involving Kumamoto airport because of the 800-metre column of debris from Mount Aso.
"Today we cancelled eight flights departing from Kumamoto and four flights arriving there," a JAL spokesman said.There was also one flight which changed destination to a nearby airport," he said, adding that more could be affected if the eruption worsens.