Ash Cloud Forces Obama to Leave Ireland Sooner

The Hill reports:

A volcanic eruption in Iceland is forcing President Obama to leave Ireland sooner than planned.

Because of a change in the trajectory of the plume of ash erupting from the Grimsvotn volcano, Obama is cutting his trip to Ireland short, according to a White House pool report.

"Due to a recent change in the trajectory in the plume of volcanic ash, Air Force One will depart Ireland for London tonight,” the pool report said. “The schedule for tomorrow will proceed as planned.”

Iceland's Eyjafjallajokull volcano erupted last year and spread ash into the sky for weeks, stranding thousands of passengers in Europe. Eurocontrol said in a statement Monday stating that ash from Grimsvotn could reach parts of northern Europe, where Obama is currently traveling, in the next 48 hours, according to a report in the Christian Science Monitor.

It's unclear whether the Grimsvotn eruption will have a significant effect on routine air travel.