A volcano erupting more than 1,000 miles away in Iceland is causing havoc for air travelers in the UK, Europe and Scandanavia — but why is volcanic ash so dangerous for pilots?

Pilots are advised never to fly though an ash cloud because of the extreme problems it can cause an aircraft.

Ingesting ash dust can cause partial or total engine power loss. Simultaneous power loss in all engines has also occurred.

The ash will also damage aircraft ventilation, hydraulic, electronic and air data systems along with the plane’s paint, windscreens and power plants.

Former British Airways pilot Eric Moody has first-hand experience of flying through an ash cloud.

In June 1982 he was piloting a Jumbo 747 from Kuala Lumpur to Perth, Australia when he hit an ash cloud just off Java.

“It was very frightening, all the engines stopped for 14 to 15 minutes and we didn’t know what was happening,” he told Sky News.

“It was dark and the effect was of St. Elmo’s fire around the aircraft. We were looking for the cloud that had caused it but didn’t know it was a volcanic ash cloud.

“We glided the aircraft about 80 nautical miles and went down 37,000ft to about 12,000ft.

“That was when we must have come out of the bottom of the ash cloud. It was a dark old night.”

As a result of Moody’s flight experience, research into the effects of volcanic ash clouds on aircraft increased and Volcanic Ash Advisory Centers were established around the world.

“Flying into volcanic ash is as deadly as flying with ice on your aircraft,” said Moody.

“And everyone knows how dangerous that is.”

To read more, go to SkyNews.com.