Training aircraft at the UK’s Royal Air Force (RAF) Wittering were grounded due to fears that a plume of ash from a volcano in Iceland could cause damage to the craft.

At least 14 Harrier jets were forced to abandon flights at about 10am local time, according to the BBC.

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At midday GMT, no planes were allowed to take off as the volcanic ash blew across the UK and northern Europe.

The air traffic control service said that it was unlikely any planes would depart before 6pm, and the situation was unlikely to improve in the foreseeable future.