Eli5: why is volcanic ash dangerous to aircraft, and yet they can fly through forest fire smoke?

Question

Thank you!

In: 32

Answer 1

Smoke and volcanic ash are very different.

Smoke is from the buts of combustibles that haven’t burned all the way, usually hydrocarbon molecules. It’s very small and very light.

Volcanic ash is literally rock. It’s a very fine dust that way thrown up into the air, but if it gets into an engine, it will reek havoc. Imagine trying to breathe through sand, it’s like that.