Tocumen International Airport is carrying out preventive inspections of its runways, taxiways, aprons, and facilities each time it perceives a new aftershock of the earthquake that shook Panama on October 9. The terminal reported that air operations continue, although the checks may cause delays and changes to flight schedules.
Airport management indicated that it temporarily halts takeoffs and landings when seismic movement perceptible within the complex is recorded. Technical teams inspect the operational areas before authorizing the resumption of activities.
"Once these inspections are completed and safety conditions have been verified, operations resume," the airport stated in a notice addressed to passengers. The procedure is repeated with each new aftershock felt at the facilities.
The notice advised travelers to remain calm, follow the instructions of airport staff, and contact their airlines to check the status of their flights. Tocumen explained that it coordinates with the airlines to reorganize itineraries affected by the operational pauses.
The measure seeks to confirm that there is no damage or conditions that could compromise the safety of aircraft, passengers, and workers. The inspections cover the landing runways, taxiways, aprons, and other airport infrastructure…
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File photo. Tocumen International Airport conducts inspections of its facilities following the earthquake recorded in Panama. /(REUTERS/Enea Lebrun)Tocumen International Airport carries out preventive inspections of its runways, taxiways, aprons, and facilities each time it perceives a new aftershock of the earthquake that shook Panama on October 9. The terminal reported that air operations continue, although the checks may cause delays and changes to flight schedules. The airport administration stated that it temporarily halts takeoffs and landings whenever perceptible seismic movement is registered within the complex. Technical teams inspect the operational areas before authorizing the resumption of activities.
"Once these inspections are completed and safety conditions are verified, operations resume," the airport stated in a notice addressed to passengers. The procedure is repeated with each new aftershock felt at the facilities. The notice advised travelers to remain calm, follow the instructions of airport staff, and contact their airlines to check the status of their flights. Tocumen explained that it coordinates with airlines to reorganize itineraries affected by the operational pauses. Interruptions at Tocumen affect international connections due to its role as a regional transit hub. The measure seeks to confirm that there is no damage or conditions that could compromise the safety of aircraft, passengers, and workers. The inspections cover landing runways, taxiways, aprons, and other airport infrastructure. Tocumen International Airport did not report structural damage or a prolonged suspension of its operations. It did warn that the preventive interruptions caused by aftershocks may lead to further delays and schedule changes.
"Each of these measures has a single purpose: to protect everyone's safety," the airport stated. The announcement was released after a day of seismic activity that led various Panamanian institutions to assess their facilities and apply emergency protocols. Tocumen is Panama's main air connection hub and one of the international transit nodes of Central America. Because of this, any interruption, even of a few minutes, can affect regional and international flight connections. The earthquake occurred at 12:56 noon, local time, on Friday, October 9. The United States Geological Survey (USGS) set the final magnitude of the quake at 7.7, after several initial updates. The Institute of Geosciences of the University of Panama reported a magnitude of 7.5. The airport administration temporarily halts takeoffs and landings upon perceiving seismic movement for the safety of passengers and workers. /(Video capture)The epicenter was located near Tonosí, in the south of the country, in an area close to the provinces of Los Santos and Herrera. USGS data placed the focus at a depth of about 10 kilometers, a characteristic that contributed to the quake being felt across broad areas of Panamanian territory, including the capital. The shaking prompted preventive evacuations in buildings in Panama City and inspections of infrastructure in several provinces. It was also felt in parts of Colombia, according to reports released during the day. After the main earthquake, the country registered a sequence of aftershocks. The Institute of Geosciences of the University of Panama counted more than 100 subsequent movements, some with magnitudes above 6.0. Among them were quakes of 6.1, 6.0, and 5.3, according to reports gathered by local and international media. The continuation of the aftershocks kept evaluation protocols active in various parts of the country. In Tocumen's case, the mechanism involves momentarily halting flight operations, examining the conditions of critical areas, and resuming landings and takeoffs only after technical authorization. The terminal asked passengers to check directly with their airlines about any changes to scheduled departures or arrivals, since the procedure will continue if new aftershocks are felt.