The crater of the Iceland volcano, which erupted for the second time in a month. (AP)

Departures boards in Terminal 3 at Manchester Airport, where flights have been suspended due to ash from a volcanic eruption in Iceland moving towards UK airspace. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Thursday April 15, 2010. See PA story AIR Ash.

Melting ice spewing from the crater of the volcano under the Eyjafjallajokull glacier in Iceland

This image made available by the Icelandic Coastguard, Wednesday April 14, 2010, shows the crater the volcano under the Eyjafjallajokull glacier in Iceland, which erupted for the second time in less than a month

Melting ice spewing from the crater of the volcano under the Eyjafjallajokull glacier in Iceland

James Kemp in Belfast is trying his best to get back to Leeds. All flights at Belfast International Airport have been cancelled due to the volcanic ash.

Thousands of air passengers were caught up in massive travel chaos today after an ash cloud from a volcanic eruption in Iceland grounded flights right across the UK and Ireland.

In an unprecedented situation, Belfast International, Belfast City, City of Derry and Dublin airports were among those closed to incoming and outgoing flights as the huge cloud drifted into UK airspace.

The National Air Traffic Services (NATS) said all non-emergency flights in UK airspace would be grounded from noon today until 6pm at the earliest.

But it is feared that passengers will face further disruption after Ryanair warned cancellations and delays were likely to continue into Friday.

And bmi said flights from Dublin to London Heathrow have been cancelled “until further notice”.

A Belfast International Airport spokesperson said: "National Air Traffic Services has extended the prohibition on all flights within UK airspace (bar in an emergency) until 7am on Friday 16th. As such all flights in and out of Belfast International Airport have been cancelled for the remainder of the day.

"Passengers due to travel later today are strongly urged not to make their way to the airport before contacting their relevant airline for advice and assistance. The airport’s homepage – www.belfastairport.com - has a list of relevant contact details to help passengers get the information they need as quickly as possible.

"Belfast International Airport remains operational and flights will resume as soon as it is deemed safe to do so by the authorities. Further updates will be provided in due course.”

A NATS spokesman said: “From midday today until at least 6pm, there will be no flights permitted in UK controlled airspace other than emergency situations.

“We continue to monitor the situation with the Met Office and work closely with airline customers and adjoining countries.”

Aviation chiefs were forced to take the extraordinary decision amid warnings from experts that the tiny particles of rock, glass and sand contained in the ash cloud would be sufficient to jam aircraft engines.

The huge cloud was released into the atmosphere following a volcanic eruption under a glacier in the Eyjafjallajoekull area of Iceland.

Weather forecasters warned it could take days for the cloud to disperse.

Travel organisation Abta said it was working closely with the relevant authorities and airlines to ensure its members were kept informed of the most up-to-date information.

An Abta spokeswoman said: “Some airlines and tour operators have posted statements on their websites and this information will be updated on a regular basis until the situation returns to normal. At this stage no timescales have been indicated.”

All early flights were halted at Belfast City and City of Derry airports while only a small number of European flights made it out of Belfast International before the noon ban came into force.

All London airports were closed while Aberdeen, Edinburgh and Glasgow airports were also shut early this morning.

Passengers arriving at airports across the UK were greeted with information boards telling them services had been cancelled indefinitely.

Belfast City spokesman Mark Beattie said there was “a high likelihood” the cancellations would be extended into the afternoon.

SDLP MLA Conal McDevitt was caught up in the chaos with fellow members of the Stormont Health Committee.

“We had arrived at around 6am for a 7am flight to Leeds Bradford,” he said.

“But the staff were very clear and concise in their message that there would be no flights.

“Of course it is inconvenient but I would rather be on the ground and safe. It is an unpredictable situation.”

Passengers arriving at City of Derry airport for an 8.10am Aer Arann flight to Dublin were told it has been cancelled.

Ann Daly, from Londonderry, was one of the passengers taken to Dublin by taxi instead.

“I am going down to Dublin for work and I was supposed to be there at 10am but I am not going to get there now until this afternoon,” she said. “I am just glad I am going to Dublin and not going further afield. It doesn’t bother me that much but I feel sorry for anyone going on holidays.”

The European air safety body, Eurocontrol, said the cloud of ash had reached 55,000ft and was expected to move through Northern Ireland and Scotland by 1pm. It is not expected to be visible at ground level.

Brian Flynn from Eurocontrol: “As it moves toward the Netherlands and Belgium it will dissipate and lose intensity, like any weather phenomenon. But we don't know what the extent of it will be.”

Matt Dobson, a forecaster for MeteoGroup, said: “The concern is that as well as the eruption, the jet stream passing through Iceland is passing in a south easterly direction, which will bring ash to the north of Scotland and Denmark and Norway. But it is impossible to say how much ash will come down.”

Airport operator BAA said: “Following advice from the Met Office, the National Air Traffic Service has introduced restrictions to UK airspace this morning as a result of volcanic ash drifting across the United Kingdom from Iceland.

“Passengers intending to fly today are asked to contact their airline for further information and should expect disruption in the coming hours.”

Passengers can also keep up to date with cancellations at Belfast City and Belfast International via their websites.

Have your travel plans been thrown into chaos? Email your story to newseditor@belfasttelegraph.co.uk

For latest flight information check out airport websites:

www.belfastcityairport.com

www.belfastairport.com

www.cityofderryairport.com

Belfast Telegraph