Colombia Drone Halts Medellín Airport for 17 Minutes

A drone near Medellín’s international airport forced Colombia to halt all flights for about 17 minutes on Saturday night, 10 October, the civil aviation authority Aeronáutica Civil (Aerocivil) said. The airport, José María Córdova in Rionegro, reopened after a safety check. Aerocivil announced the temporary suspension at 10:28 p.m. local time, citing “the presence of a drone” and the activation of established protocols to verify the situation. Flights resumed after Aerocivil reported that verification and operational safety procedures were completed with competent authorities. Passenger accounts varied, with some reporting closures starting around 8:45 p.m. and delays or diversions up to 11 p.m. Aerocivil and the airport operator Airplan did not say whether the drone was recovered or who operated it. Colombia’s drone threat has grown, with a 2026 report counting explosive drone attacks attributed mainly to the ELN and Iván Mordisco’s dissidents.