The Big Brother house has said goodbye to yet another contestant
22:18, 09 Oct 2026Updated 22:37, 09 Oct 2026
The Big Brother house has lost yet another housemate (Image: ITV)
A divisive housemate has just been kicked out of the Big Brother house.
The ITV2 competition returned to screens tonight (October 9) for its hotly-anticipated live eviction. The housemates nominated face-to-face earlier this week, leaving carer Pauline and radio presenter Rob at risk of elimination.
Pauline, 31, had received five nominations from Lynx, Philip, Rhianna, Rochelle and Catrin. While 25-year-old Rob received six nominations from Frankie, Lynx, Omar, Philip, Rhianna and Yasmin.
This eviction marked Pauline’s third week being nominated for the public vote in just four weeks, and the Essex-based star was naturally upset to be facing the chopping block yet again. Her response to being nominated sparked a huge row in the house after newcomer Catrin broke down in tears because Pauline refused to speak to her after the face-to-face vote.
Tensions boiled over when Rochelle, 57, found the teaching assistant in tears and decided to confront Pauline. Their heated spat ended with Big Brother issuing a formal warning to Pauline for “unacceptable behaviour”. But has she managed to survive yet another eviction?
Who left Big Brother tonight?
Pauline has been evicted from the Big Brother house following a public vote. Her exit stunned her co-stars and left Yasmin in tears. But the 31-year-old was in good spirits as she danced her way out of the famous house.
Fans were quick to react to the eviction and took to social media to share their thoughts on who was sent packing. “Very disappointing Pauline had to leave just as Twinks brought her back to life. Things were just getting interesting! #bbuk,” commented one.
Someone else shared: “We are getting rid of too many big characters week after week. Can we get rid of some of the deadwood please. We need to keep the drama going #BBUK.”
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Yet another supporter said: “Either option would have been horrible there but happy that Pauline can finally get a bit of peace,” with a fourth fan praising: “at least she came out grinning and dancing! #bbuk.”
Others have been left regretting their votes, with one viewer stating: “We voted the wrong person out. She was finally coming out her shell. Regret voting Pauline now:( #BBUK.”
Big Brother newcomer Catrin was at the centre of an explosive argument in the latest episode of the ITV2 show
22:36, 06 Oct 2026Updated 22:37, 06 Oct 2026
The Big Brother house has once again erupted into chaos (Image: ITV)
A Big Brother housemate has been forced to sleep away from her co-stars after tensions reached boiling point.
The ITV2 reality competition returned to screens tonight (October 6) and saw the contestants enduring yet another day in the House of Revelations. The new theme is all about exposing the housemates’ real opinions about one another, which means they were forced to nominate face-to-face.
The nominations naturally left tensions high in the house, but it was newcomer Catrin’s choice to put Pauline up for elimination that caused a huge housemate clash, which led to Big Brother asking Pauline to sleep in the Snug instead of the Bedroom.
It started when Catrin approached Pauline because she “felt bad” about the nomination but Pauline walked away from her. But the conversation returned before bed time when Catrin decided to point out that Pauline has been ignoring her ever since the nomination.
The 23-year-old said: “I’m not invisible”. This only sparked an argument between the pair as Pauline explained that she is upset about being placed for eviction for the third time, not necessarily about Catrin’s vote. It later spiralled out of control when Pauline, Harry and Rob were caught having a private chat in the bathroom.
Referencing her spat with Catrin, Pauline said: “Is this place empty? Is it just us? What the f*** was that? Like don’t start on me, you literally just got here.”
She went on to fume: “I don’t even owe you a hello at this point. ‘Pauline, give me attention. It’s about me.’ It’s not about you, babe, you just got here. Like, you ain’t gonna get your moment girl.
“Go look for it elsewhere, you ain’t gonna find it here. That was so ridiculous. Is it really that deep that you just came… tried to come for me? Like, you look stupid, seriously, like you were looking for a moment.”
But she didn’t realise that Catrin was also in the bathroom listening to the entire conversation. An emotional Catrin then came out of the toilet and said: “Sorry, I just wanna say I’m in the toilet the entire time and I can hear the conversation, so, I can hear everything.”
Pauline replied: “Cause you really tried to make that moment about you and I wouldn’t go for it… it’s not about you. This week is not about you.” Catrin was left in tears as she argued: “Nothing is about me and I’m not trying to say that.”
“Oh my gosh. I can’t. No seriously, I can’t. And now she’s in tears and ‘I’m the bad guy, I’m the villain’. Like what the f***,” Pauline fumed as the new housemate stormed off in tears.
Upset by the conversion she overheard between Pauline and Rob, Catrin joined the other housemates in the bedroom seeking their comfort. Another argument soon erupted as Rochelle decided to defend the teaching assistant, telling Pauline to “pick on someone your own size”.
Big Brother ultimately had no choice but to separate Pauline, Catrin and Rochelle for the night.
Big Brother continues tomorrow night at 9pm on ITV2 and ITVX
Frankie Bridge was forced to pull out of Paris Fashion Week last-minute after a brutal anxiety spiral left her bed-bound and unable to function properly.
The Saturdays singer, 37, revealed she had a “dark day” last week that left her in floods of tears before collapsing into bed for the entire rest of the day.
Frankie Bridge was forced to pull out of Paris Fashion Week after she was left bed boundCredit: YouTube/Frankie BridgeThe Loose Women star said her anxiety spiralled and she was unable to function properlyCredit: Getty
Frankie also said she has been suffering anxiety-related heart palpitations for the last six months and admitted she had not been eating or sleeping enough.
The mum-of-two had been due to travel to Paris for Fashion Week, which ends on Tuesday, but had to cancel the trip after it began triggering health issues.
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Speaking in her YouTube vlog on Monday, Frankie explained: “Paris is like my favourite place, and it’s like my favourite part of fashion week, but it was just giving me anxiety.
The singer, who was due to attend one of the shows as a guest, said she spoke to her agent, who told her the trip was “just not worth it”.
The mum-of-two had been due to travel to Paris for Fashion WeekCredit: Shutterstock EditorialFrankie said she has been suffering anxiety-related heart palpitations for the last six monthsCredit: YouTube/Frankie Bridge
She added: “At the same time, I feel relieved, but also so disappointed and annoyed.”
Her decision came after a punishing few weeks including a trip to New York and her Faves Live runway event during London Fashion Week.
Frankie said sons Parker, 12, and Carter, 11 – her kids with her husband, ex-footballer Wayne Bridge, 46 – had returned to school, while a family member was “really really sick”.
She admitted: “I think I just didn’t realise how stressed I was and how tired and overwhelmed I was. And I just haven’t had a break or a moment to stop and think about any of it.”
The Loose Women star said: “I was really scared this week that I was heading towards burnout.
“On the way home from filming something on Wednesday, I basically cried the whole way home. I just haven’t been able to function. I think it just finished me off. That was a really dark day.”
Frankie said she had kept turning up for work but felt other parts of her life were slipping.
She revealed Carter went to school at the wrong time one day, adding: “I try and be the best mum that I can be, best friend, best wife, whatever.”
Frankie also revealed her physical health had taken a knock after falling ill. Describing the exhaustion, she said it felt like she had been “hit by a bus”.
She added: “I’ve had heart palpitations all day today, which is like a new thing for me like the last six months if I’m anxious or anything.”
Frankie also admitted stress had affected her appetite. She said: “I think I’ve just not been looking after myself.
“I think I’ve been really stressed, really busy, which I love. I thrive under pressure and stress, but it kind of came with not being hungry.
“So, I probably haven’t been eating enough. I haven’t been sleeping enough.”
Frankie has previously spoken openly about depression and anxiety and spending time in a psychiatric hospital aged 21.
She has also undergone ketamine-assisted therapy for her mental health.
She added: “This is just the reality of trying to do it all. You just can’t. And sometimes something’s got to give. And this week, that something was me.”
WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court will open its new term Monday by hearing arguments on whether the oil and gas industry may be forced to pay damages for the scorching heat waves, wildfires and droughts that are blamed on climate change.
It’s a momentous question the justices have put off deciding for nearly a decade — and may do so again.
California joined more than two dozen blue states and municipalities in 2023 when it sued the five largest oil companies, alleging “decades of deception” over the danger of a warming climate.
They have “privately known the truth for decades but have fed us lies and mistruths to further their record-breaking profits at the expense of our environment,” California Atty. Gen. Rob Bonta said.
Fire and smoke rise at the Chevron Refinery in El Segundo in October 2025.
(Robbin Goddard/Los Angeles Times)
Such climate-change lawsuits were patterned after the mass claims against the tobacco and opioid industries. Both were accused of concealing the dangers of their very profitable products.
But the climate suits have stalled. Judges have been divided over whether these potentially huge claims should be decided in federal or state court, and if so, under what law.
Last year, Boulder County, Colo., won a 5-2 ruling in the state Supreme Court that allowed its 2018 suit to proceed as a claim of a public nuisance, an unjust enrichment or a civil conspiracy. These are referred to as “common law” claims that are long-standing and traditional but do not rely on a measure approved by the Legislature.
The Colorado judges also said the climate-change suits are not “preempted” or blocked by federal anti-pollution laws because the suit for damages did not regulate greenhouse gas emissions.
The dissenters said the state court was giving Boulder a “green light to act as its own republic” to punish the Exxon Mobil Corp. for the impact of “global climate change.”
“Boulder, Colorado cannot make energy policy for the entire country,” they said. A ruling for the county would “authorize all 50 states and tens of thousands of municipalities” to ask their local juries to “impose ruinous liability” on the fossil fuel industry, they told the court.
The Trump administration joined in support of the industry’s appeal.
“Our federal system would disintegrate if each state could tackle inherently national or international problems by forcing its regulatory prescriptions on the other 49,” the administration’s lawyers wrote.
In February, the justices voted to hear the case and decide whether federal law blocks state law claims for the “effects of interstate and international greenhouse-gas emissions.”
The court scheduled the case of Suncor Energy and Exxon Mobil vs. Boulder County as the first of the new term.
Legal experts say the industry’s claim to be shielded by federal law is weak.
UCLA law professor Alejandro Camacho described the “preemption arguments as the latest and perhaps most ambitious effort to weaponize federal law to prevent polluters and fraudsters from paying for the harms they cause.”
Neither the Constitution nor the Clean Air Act provides such a shield, he said.
Legal experts on the other side question the notion that a public nuisance can be defined so broadly to include both the sale of a legal product and the impact on carbon pollution, much of it coming from China and India.
The outcome in the Supreme Court remains in doubt.
Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito, left, shown with Justices Clarence Thomas and Brett Kavanaugh in 2025, withdrew from involvement in the climate case being argued Monday, when the court term begins.
(Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images)
Last week, Justice Samuel A. Alito, a reliable conservative, announced he was withdrawing from the case. He did not say why, but he owns stock in other oil companies that could be affected by the court’s decision.
A broad ruling for Boulder would send a shock through the fossil-fuel industry and clear the wave of climate-change suits to proceed in state courts.
The industry may turn to Congress. Republicans in the House and Senate have introduced bills that would shield energy companies from such liability claims.
Similarly, a broad ruling shielding the oil companies probably would block all of the climate change suits, including California’s.
The justices may opt out of ruling, however.
When they granted review of the case, they asked the lawyers on both sides to weigh in on whether the high court had “jurisdiction” to decide the Boulder case.
Usually the U.S. Supreme Court reviews only final judgments handed down by state courts, and the Boulder case did not result in a final ruling.
And without Alito, the court could split 4 to 4.
A decision based on a tie vote would affirm Boulder’s early stage victory but would not set a precedent that would govern other cases.
In its new term, the court also will hear major cases on immigration and guns.
Two of the cases test the Trump administration’s strict deportation policies. One denies bond hearings to people who entered the country illegally and may be deported.
In the past, the government usually offered bond hearings to those who could be held for months or even years while their claims were pending, so long as they could show they were not a flight risk or danger to the public.
But the Trump administration said it plans to detain tens of thousands of such persons indefinitely, even if they have no criminal record and pose no risk.
Government lawyers pointed to a provision of the 1996 immigration law that said people who entered the country illegally “shall be detained.” Previous administrations applied the mandatory-detention rule only to migrants who entered the U.S. illegally and were arrested near the border.
The other case involves so-called “third-country removals.”
The administration is determined to deport immigrants who have “final orders of removal,” many of whom have criminal records. But in some cases, they may not be sent back to their country of origin.
The policy of sending them to a third country has been condemned as harsh and cruel. Thousands of these people have been flown to impoverished countries that are dangerous and where they may be subjected to abuse.
The administration says it seeks assurances from those countries that the deported persons will not be not be abused or persecuted, but it refuses hearings for individuals.
U.S. District Judge Brian Murphy in Boston has ruled these deportees are entitled to a “meaningful notice” of where they are being sent and “meaningful opportunity” to contest this if they have a reasonable fear they will face persecution and torture.
Trump administration lawyers filed emergency appeals at the Supreme Court to set aside Murphy’s orders. They argued that the judge had gone beyond his authority, and the court’s conservatives agreed.
In December, however, the court will hear arguments from both sides on what the law calls for in such deportation cases.
Meanwhile, on Dec. 2, the court will hear a potential landmark on gun rights and and decide whether states may prohibit possession and sale of semiautomatic AR-15 rifles.
California and 11 other blue states have adopted such laws, often in response to mass shootings.
Gun rights advocates say these rapid-fire rifles are among the most popular weapons nationwide and should be protected as lawful under the 2nd Amendment’s right “to keep and bear arms.”
Gogglebox has returned to screens for another episode – but one notable face was missing from screens
Gogglebox legend rushed to hospital as they’re forced to miss filming for Channel 4 show(Image: mirror.co.uk)
A Gogglebox legend was rushed to hospital this week, causing them to miss out on filming for the latest instalment.
The long-running Channel 4 show returned to screens on Friday evening (October 2) for another episode. Back to share their thoughts on the latest bits of telly were siblings Pete and Sophie Sandiford and Ellie and Izzi Warner.
Married couple Andrew and Alfie and best mates Danielle and Daniella from Leeds also made an appearance, as well as newbies to the show, good friends Jude and Sherry.
However, one couple that failed to make an appearance was Sue and Steve from South London. The pair joined the programme in 2019 and quickly became firm favourites with fans.
But this week, Steve was rushed to hospital, meaning they were unable to film this week’s episode. On Instagram, the couple issued an update and shared a photo of Steve in hospital.
In the caption, they wrote: “What a difference a week makes. Steve was a little poorly and had to spend a few days in hospital & but he is home now. Out for lunch and enjoying his first beer in a while. Just call me Nurse Ratched.”
Confirming their absence from the latest episode, Sue told a follower in the comments section of the post: “We won’t see you this week but hopefully next week.” Meanwhile, other fans and Sue and Steve’s Gogglebox co-stars flooded the couple with support.
Izzi Warner wrote: “Glad you’re feeling better Steve.” Meanwhile someone else wrote: “Sorry to hear Steve wasn’t well, glad to hear he’s home and feeling better.” Another then penned: “Sorry to see this. Hope you’re feeling better soon.”
South London couple Sue and Steve joined Gogglebox almost 10 years ago in 2019 – and it’s fair to say it didn’t take them long to become firm favourites with fans.
Over the years, Steve, a retired black cab driver, and Sue, who is semi-retired, have had viewers in stitches thanks to their hilarious one-liners and comical takes on the telly highlights.
Away from the programme, the pair – who have been married for over four decades – are also doting parents to two daughters and are also grandparents to grandson Roman.
Palestinian participation in upcoming Knesset vote continues to shrink with withdrawal of Sami Abu Shehadeh.
Published On 2 Oct 20262 Oct 2026
Arab Israeli politician Sami Abu Shehadeh has withdrawn his candidacy for the upcoming Israeli elections after the Supreme Court advised him to drop out.
The leader of the left-wing Palestinian Balad party announced on Friday he was dropping his bid for election to the Knesset on October 27. His withdrawal, which came after the court threatened to disqualify him, comes amid increased efforts by Israeli authorities to block Arab Israeli parties from taking part.
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Political analysts view Arab Israeli parties as potential kingmakers in the election, with polls showing neither Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition nor the main opposition bloc on course for an outright majority.
The withdrawal came after the Supreme Court indicated that a majority of its judges agreed with a September 23 decision from Israel’s Central Elections Committee to oust him from the race after nationalist political rivals accused him of supporting Hamas’s attack on October 7, 2023.
Adalah, a rights organisation representing Abu Shehadeh, condemned the court, saying the evidence it presented had no legal basis.
“The court has effectively decided to remove a Palestinian leader, a citizen of Israel, from the Knesset,” Adalah said in a statement.
“The court’s clear intention to disqualify him,” it added, was “a direction that would have set a dangerous legal precedent with devastating consequences.”
Sami Abu Shehadeh, leader of the Balad party, arrives at the Supreme Court in Jerusalem on October 1, 2026 [AFP]
Abu Shehadeh served in the Knesset from 2019 to 2022. Balad confirmed he was withdrawing his candidacy but stressed that the decision did not mark the end of his political struggle and that he would remain party leader.
The elections committee voted to disqualify him at the request of far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, who accused him of supporting the Hamas attack due to an article issued the following day in which Abu Shehadeh called it an “important historical event”.
Speaking to the Supreme Court on Thursday, Abu Shehadeh said he did not support “armed struggle” but acknowledged that a paragraph in the article had been incorrectly worded. He said his intention was to call for moving the conflict towards a political process.
Adalah labelled his withdrawal from the election “a severe blow to the right of Palestinian citizens to be represented and to stand for election”.
The elections committee has also barred two Arab electoral lists: the United Arab List and the Joint List, a three-party alliance that includes Abu Shehadeh’s party Balad. The Supreme Court is due to continue hearing appeals from the parties on Friday.
Adalah has questioned why the Palestinian candidates are being disqualified but far-right Israeli candidates were “cleared to run” despite openly calling for violence against Palestinians and making statements “amounting to incitement to genocide”.
CATANIA Airport in Sicily has been forced to cancel all its flights again today after yet another eruption on Mount Etna.
Volcanic ash in the airspace has resulted in the suspension of inbound flights until at least midnight tonight.
Mount Etna has erupted again resulting in cancelled flights from CataniaCredit: GettyCancelled and delayed flights has been a nightmare for passengersCredit: EPA
The airport first stopped incoming flights on Saturday due to ash in the airspace and limitations have since been placed on departures too.
This morning, a warning on the airport’s website explained that due to “volcanic activity and weather conditions” cancellations and delays are expected until “23:59pm today, Monday, September 28.”
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Flights to and from London Gatwick and London Luton remain on the schedule – but are likely to be cancelled due to the flight limitations.
Some passengers took to social media over the weekend explaining they had travelled across to Palermo to get a flight home from there instead.
Some UK flights were affected then too, either being cancelled or diverted to Palermo on the northwestern coast of the island.
In August, ongoing eruptions from Mount Etna forced the airport to shut for five days in a row resulting in hundreds of cancelled flights.
Families who had their flights cancelled were left stranded with videos on social media showing holidaymakers sleeping on the airport floor and even luggage belts.
Last time Mount Etna erupted, nearby Malta International Airport had to cancel 19 flights due to volcanic ash.
Catania is Sicily’s busiest airport handling around 12.4million every year – which works out to around 40,000 passengers each day.
Ash from the volcano has disrupted the airspace in SicilyCredit: Splash
What does the disruption due to Mount Etna mean for passengers?
Anton Radchenko, air passenger rights expert and founder and CEO of AirAdvisor, explainedwhat the disruption means for customers…
“When volcanic ash closes airspace, airlines will usually class it as an extraordinary circumstance, which means fixed cash compensation is unlikely.
“However, I would urge passengers not to confuse ‘no compensation’ with ‘no rights’.
“The airline must still offer a refund or rerouting and provide reasonable meals, accommodation and transport while passengers wait.
“If you still need to get home, do not automatically accept a refund.
“Once you accept it, the airline’s rerouting and care obligations will normally end.
“Ask for the earliest reasonable alternative and, if another airline can get you back significantly sooner, ask to be transferred to that service.
“If you have to pay for reasonable essentials because the airline fails to provide them, keep every itemised receipt so you can seek reimbursement.”
This is supported by the UK Civil Aviation Authority’s current cancellation guidance which you can findhere.
Big Brother was also forced to issue a warning to the housemate
Big Brother’s Rochelle found herself at the centre of drama again(Image: ITV)
Big Brother housemates were forced to intervene after a huge row broke out once again and “threats of violence”.
There has been plenty of chaos in the Big Brother house in just over a week since the show returned to screens. Already, viewers have witnessed heated clashes and a live evictions as personalities continue to clash.
Last night’s instalment (September 23), saw the housemates nominate for the first time this series as they told Big Brother who they wished to face eviction this week. After receiving the highest number of votes, Pauline will once again face this week’s eviction alongside fellow housemate Chelsey.
Viewers are being asked to choose who should leave as one housemate will be forced to say their goodbyes in tomorrow’s live eviction (September 25).
But before that, the drama continued in tonight’s instalment with more explosive rows and rule breaks forcing Big Brother to dish out the punishments.
For this week’s shopping task, Big Brother has transformed the House into Noah’s Ark. Each housemate was assigned an animal persona and must take part in a range of different challenges, with Philip and Charlotte in charge as Noah and his wife.
Samuel and Johanne were lions; Pauline and Omar were elephants; Yasmin and Harry were sharks; Chelsey and Frankie were crows; Lynx and Rhianna were rabbits and Rob and Rochelle were bugs.
It didn’t take long before things turned sour as tensions started to rise. When tasked with cooking, Rochelle appeared to struggle with her and Rob required to cook for the whole house.
Getting increasingly stressed, Rochelle could be heard saying: “This isn’t my thing” as she fought back tears. But when served their food, the housemates noticed things were not quite as it seemed.
Concerns were raised over whether the chicken was cooked properly, meaning Johanne wanted to cook her own chicken – however this was against the rules.
Convinced the chicken was uncooked, Johanne said she was going to put the chicken in the airfryer for a while longer – which was against the rules.
Rochelle fumed: “I don’t think you’re allowed to… the chicken is cooked.” However, Yasmin hit back that people would not eat raw chicken.
Stating she wanted to cook her own chicken, Rochelle hit back she was not allowed to, but Johanne fumed: “Who are you talking to? I’m not eating it. I’m not eating it. Now what?”
She added: “Sit your a** down. Who the hell are you talking to? I want to cook my chicken longer – I can do that. Who are you talking to? Your craziness needs to really calm down.”
Fuming that Rochelle was “unstable”, Johanne then fumed: “It’s not my fault you didn’t take cooking classes….You started screaming like a crazy woman. I’m not your child.”
Rochelle replied: “The minute you walked in, you were going to say it was sh*t.” Johanne commented: “You need to learn how to cook.”
After a heated exchange, Johanne said: “You’re a self-entitled 80-year-old woman. I’m not the one. Get your old a** together. You old hag!”
The back and fourth continued to become heated as Philip was forced to intervene, telling his co-stars to “calm down”. The other housemates were stunned by what they witnessed as Rochelle was soon called to the Diary Room. Big Brother then warned Rochelle against threats of violence which was deemed unacceptable.
Big Brother continues tomorrow at 9pm on ITV2 and ITVX
Looking at today’s schedule, it’s mostly arrivals into the airport after 9.30pm that are affected.
Only two flights from the UK are affected by the strike action today.
The first is a flight from Manchester Airport to Charleroi which was scheduled for 10.55pm and has since been cancelled.
The second is a flight from Charleroi to Manchester Airport which was scheduled for 19.35pm and has also been cancelled.
Ryanair has asked passengers to monitor their Ryanair App for the latest updates regarding their flight.
In a previous statement, the airline said: “We sincerely apologise for any inconvenience caused as a result of these ATC strike delays/cancellations, which are entirely beyond airlines’ control.”
Yesterday, about 40 flights in total were cancelled at Charleroi Airport.
According to Skeyes, the Belgium‘s official national air navigation service provider, the nightly strikes are expected to affect more than 800 flights.
The strike is set to continue until October 10Credit: Getty
PASSENGERS are facing disruption today at an airport in Sicily following a volcanic eruption.
Catania Airport has suspended all flights until this afternoon due to an eruption on Mount Etna – and it’s not for the first time as hundreds of flights were forced to cancel last month.
Catania Airport has been forced to close again after more eruptions on Mount EtnaCredit: Roby Fazio / SplashNews.comAsh has drifted into the airspace resulting in flight cancellations and diversionsCredit: Roby Fazio / SplashNews.com
An ash cloud has caused airspace closures in Sicily which is affecting both arrivals and departures at Catania Airport.
Due to volcanic ash into the atmosphere, flights have been suspended until at least 2.30pm (local time) today.
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The airport said: “Passengers are kindly requested to check the status of their flight with their airline before travelling to the airport.
For Brits, the disruption today has affected one easyJet flight so far, it is departing London Gatwick at 10am and will be diverted to Palermo.
Another easyJet flight heading to London Gatwick from Catania Airport remains on the schedule for 10.35am – although it’s likely to be cancelled following the suspension.
Later today, a BA flight scheduled to depart London Gatwick for Catania Airport remains scheduled for 7.55pm.
Flights first started being cancelled and diverted yesterday when Mount Etna erupted again.
Last month, ongoing eruptions from Mount Etna forced Sicily’s busiest airport to shut for five days in a row resulting in hundreds of cancelled flights.
Families who had their flights cancelled were left stranded with videos on social media showing holidaymakers sleeping on the airport floor and even luggage belts.
Last time Mount Etna erupted nearby Malta International Airport had to cancel 19 flights due to volcanic ash.
What does the disruption due to Mount Etna mean for passengers?
Anton Radchenko, air passenger rights expert and founder and CEO of AirAdvisor, explainedwhat the disruption means for customers…
“When volcanic ash closes airspace, airlines will usually class it as an extraordinary circumstance, which means fixed cash compensation is unlikely.
“However, I would urge passengers not to confuse ‘no compensation’ with ‘no rights’.
“The airline must still offer a refund or rerouting and provide reasonable meals, accommodation and transport while passengers wait.
“If you still need to get home, do not automatically accept a refund.
“Once you accept it, the airline’s rerouting and care obligations will normally end.
“Ask for the earliest reasonable alternative and, if another airline can get you back significantly sooner, ask to be transferred to that service.
“If you have to pay for reasonable essentials because the airline fails to provide them, keep every itemised receipt so you can seek reimbursement.”
This is supported by the UK Civil Aviation Authority’s current cancellation guidance which you can findhere.