Panama Earthquake: Tocumen Flights and Copa Rebooking for Medellín

A magnitude-7.7 earthquake struck Panama on Friday, October 9, 2026, and briefly shut down Tocumen International Airport, Copa Airlines’ hub. For anyone flying between the US and Medellín with a Panama connection, the practical effect is delays and rebooking risk this weekend, not a lasting shutdown. Rionegro’s José María Córdova airport (MDE) was one of seven Colombian alternates opened for diverted flights, but we found no report confirming whether Copa’s Panama–Medellín flights were delayed or cancelled, so check your exact flight with Copa. This is what the reporting confirms so far.

Tocumen flights after the Panama earthquake

According to the Tico Times, both runways at Tocumen were closed and all flights stopped, with passengers and staff evacuated as a precaution. The airport reopened Friday afternoon after inspections of the runways, terminals and control tower, with no visible structural damage and no injuries reported. The same outlet warned that delays were likely as diverted flights and stranded passengers were rescheduled.

Aviacionline reports that Copa resumed operations after the reopening and is prioritizing the return of diverted aircraft. The airline warned of delays and changes to some itineraries.

Flights diverted to Colombia

Flights bound for Panama City were diverted to Cartagena and Barranquilla, per the Tico Times. El Heraldo reported on October 10 that diverted flights were beginning to resume their routes from Barranquilla. El Colombiano reported that Colombia’s civil aviation authority, Aerocivil, enabled seven Colombian airports for the emergency. El Heraldo and Infobae list them: San Andrés, Cartagena, Barranquilla, Santa Marta, Cali, Rionegro (José María Córdova, Medellín’s airport) and Montería. Aerocivil said the rerouting went ahead “with total normality.” The reporting we read does not say how many flights actually landed at Rionegro.

Copa’s free-change waiver: who qualifies

iGoPanama and other outlets report that, as of October 10, 2026, tickets issued through October 9 for travel on October 9 or 10 can be changed without change fees or fare differences, with rebooking possible until October 31, 2026. Reports also say passengers can cancel for a credit through Copa’s call center. The same report names copa.com and its “Mis Viajes” section as where to manage a booking; we did not find the waiver on Copa’s own site, so confirm the terms there before relying on them.

In short:

• Who: tickets issued through October 9.
• Travel dates covered: October 9 or 10.
• Rebook by: October 31, 2026, with no change fee or fare difference.
• Alternative: cancel for a credit.

What Medellín travelers on Copa should do now

• Check your flight status before leaving for the airport, and again at your origin gate. Panama’s civil aviation authority advised checking with your airline for changes, per iGoPanama.
• Check the second leg. A delayed inbound to Panama can break a tight connection to Medellín’s José María Córdova airport (MDE) in Rionegro.
• Tell your ride. If you arrive late, your airport transfer needs a new time. Our guide to the airport bus hub at Sandiego covers the COP 20,000 bus option and its schedule logic.
• Keep entry paperwork ready. Delays don’t change what immigration asks for. See our report on Americans denied entry at Rionegro.
• See what else is disrupting flights. The same day, an Avianca Medellín–JFK flight diverted to Miami after severe turbulence.
• Consider a nonstop next time. MDE has direct US routes and new ones are coming, such as Frontier’s Orlando–Medellín flight.

Was it felt in Medellín?

Yes. El Colombiano says the quake was felt mainly in Cartagena, Medellín and Chocó. Mayor Federico Gutiérrez said there were no reports of damage in the city and asked residents to call 123 for emergencies. Colombia’s disaster agency, UNGRD, ruled out a tsunami threat to Colombian territory.

The USGS put the magnitude at 7.7 (after an initial 8.0 estimate), at a depth of 33 km near Pitaloza Arriba, per the same report. Preliminary magnitudes varied between outlets, so treat 7.7 as the USGS figure.

Aftershocks and damage in Panama

The Tico Times reports more than 100 aftershocks, and ColombiaOne reports damage to homes, hotels, churches and roads across Los Santos, Herrera, Veraguas and Coclé, with the Panama Canal operating normally. Sources we checked mention aftershocks of up to about magnitude 6.0; we could not verify a reported 6.6 aftershock, so we are not stating it.

FAQ

Is Tocumen open? Yes. It reopened Friday afternoon after inspections, per the Tico Times, though delays continue as Copa returns diverted aircraft.

Can I change my Copa flight for free? Reportedly yes, if your ticket was issued through October 9 for travel October 9 or 10, with rebooking until October 31.

Was the quake felt in Medellín? Yes, but the mayor reported no damage in the city.

This is a developing story. Figures are as of October 10, 2026 and may be revised.