Ural Airlines ignores volcanic ash warning and attempts flight to Rome
A Russian commercial airplane attempted to travel from Moscow to Rome by flying under the ash cloud from Iceland's volcano, the Aviation Herald reported. The flight, operated by the Russia's Ural Airlines, had to descend more than 9,000 feet while it flew over Krakow, Poland. Later, the crew reported that the plane was low on fuel and was forced to land in Vienna. The Vienna Schwechat Airport, which remained open despite the closure of the airspace, was investigating the plane's engines for ash contamination. The Aviation Herald report did not say how many passengers were on the flight. At least 26 countries in Europe closed parts of their airspace, leaving would-be travelers stranded across the globe as scientists warned that volcanic ash from Iceland could continue drifting across northern Europe for days to come.