The molten rock could be seen spurting near the city of Catania as a fiery plume reached nearly 15,000ft above sea level.
A flight alert was issued, but the International Vincenzo Bellini Airport in Catania remained open.
An eruption in August, heralded by rare gas rings pumped up through the crater, left runways covered in ash and flights diverted. Etna has been constantly active since 2013.
