This is what will happen to an airplane if it flies through a volcanic ash cloud
Thousands of people are stranded in Bali due to the anticipated volcanic eruption, but why can't flights take off considering all the advances in technology? Lets find out...
Stellenbosch University student Lara Peach is just one of the thousands of holidaymakers and citizens trying to leave Bali ahead of the anticipated volcanic eruption.
Read: Rescuers race to save animals from Bali volcano
It's happened before though...
There was the Icelandic volcanic eruption in 2010, and even though it was relatively small, it caused chaos and a huge amount of disruption to air travel. Although it only lasted about six days, for travelers, it must have felt like a lifetime.
Read: Girl gets 'blown away' by airplane jet blast
Then in 2011, it happened again in Chile with a volcano throwing ash more than six miles into the sky. Once again planes were grounded and travelers were left stranded.
So the question is, why can't planes fly through ash?
Read: Durban residents stranded in Bali book flights home
Considering that an airplane can fly through storms, heavy fog, rain, snow, and the occasional flock of geese - and manage to come out fine on the other side, what could make ash dramatically different?
The short answer: it's hugely dangerous and the aircraft could literally fall out of the sky!
To further understand, I touched base with Lara to find out the latest and also chatted to Airline Pilot (Domestic and International) First Officer David Doull, who's also a Masters Candidate at Coventry University and a Crew Resource Management Facilitator. Here's what they had to say: