ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) - Alaska Airlines says low visibility caused by ash from Russian volcanoes is behind the cancellations of several flights in the state.
Spokeswoman Halley Knigge tells KTUU-TV (http://bit.ly/1FJaKFT) that two flights between Anchorage and Nome on the far western edge of the state were canceled on Saturday. Two other flights between Anchorage and Bethel were also canceled.
Knigge says in an email that company policy prohibits flying through areas of known ash.
Jeff Freymueller of the Alaska Volcano Observatory says three volcanoes are actively erupting on Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula. Data collected by the observatory suggests that a quick burst from one of the volcanoes sent ash over the Bering Sea.
Freymueller says winds were expected to cause the ash to dissipate by Saturday afternoon.