Copa Airlines flight diverted to Colombia after Panama quake leaves passengers stranded

A Copa Airlines flight from Nassau to Panama was diverted to Barranquilla, Colombia, after an earthquake struck Panama on 9 October 2026.

The aircraft remained on the ground for nearly 12 hours, with passengers aboard from shortly before noon until 11:20 pm, and were repeatedly told they would depart within another 30 minutes without clear explanations. Passengers waited for fuel without food or water, experienced intermittent air‑conditioning, and reported multiple incidents that required police involvement and medical assistance. After disembarkation, airline agents were not available to assist and promised accommodation was not provided, while some Colombian passengers were allowed to leave the aircraft, affecting the passenger manifest.