Mount Etna Eruption Cancels Over 650 Catania Flights, Stranding U.S. Tourist

2 articles · Updated · Fox News · Aug 21

Julie Sagoskin, a New York traveler, got home on Aug. 11 after her Aug. 10 flight from Catania was canceled and she rerouted through Rome.
More than a third of Catania airport's 1,974 scheduled flights were canceled between Aug. 6 and Aug. 12 as Mount Etna's volcanic activity disrupted peak summer travel.
An 11-hour overnight train from Catania to Rome became her escape route as seats filled quickly, while others in her group tried Palermo or endured more cancellations and lost luggage.
Ash was visible near the airport hotel and guests were briefly told to leave the pool area, underscoring how directly the eruption affected stranded travelers.
The disruption hit thousands of passengers during Sicily's busy vacation season, turning Sagoskin's trip into a case study in rerouting and travel flexibility during natural disasters.