A fault in radar-display systems disrupted air traffic at Bogotá-El Dorado and airports serving Medellín on Wednesday, 4 November. Colombia’s civil aviation authority, Aerocivil, activated contingency procedures and increased aircraft separation to maintain safety. The disruption caused delays and cancellations before operations began recovering after the fault was addressed; departures at El Dorado returned to normal and the additional separation requirement in Medellín airspace was lifted.
The affected airports included José María Córdova in Rionegro, which serves Medellín, and the city’s Olaya Herrera Airport. Air traffic controllers reloaded affected flight plans while technical teams continued monitoring the systems. Aerocivil was also reviewing the technical issue, but the precise cause had not been established.
At least eight LATAM flights to and from Bogotá were cancelled, with other airlines also adjusting their operations. Airlines were arranging alternatives for affected passengers. Cancellation and delay figures varied by airport and report, and no overall total was available.