US hiker dies after being struck by lightning while hiking on Mount Etna

Kansas man pronounced dead in Mount Etna thunderstorm

The events took place on Sunday evening in an exposed area above treelines. 

The hiker was promptly flown to the hospital by helicopter. His identity is still to be confirmed.

Surprisingly, more people have been killed by lightning strikes than volcanic activity on Mount Etna. 

Earlier recordings of this were last seen in 1987. 

Much of the areas surrounding, and on Mount Etna have been restricted from the public due to severe volcanic activity, including disruptions at Catania Airport. 

Northerly winds have pushed ashes into the skies of Malta and Northern Africa. 

However, UK flights have started to feel the weights of Etna’s eruption earlier today. 

The airport's closure meant planes were rerouted to other airports on the island, which increased taxi fares and car rental prices.

Boris Behncke, a researcher at the Volcanology's Etna Observatory, said: "Volcanic ash can be a great risk for aircraft.”

He added that the ash "can be sucked into the motors, and force them to stall.”

"This is why everyone is so very cautious with aircraft when there is a volcanic ash emission."

Hundreds of holidaymakers were left stranded during the busiest travel week of the year as ash spewed from Etna.