tech
April 30, 2026
New Alert: El Dorado Airport Records Two Closures Due to Drones in Less Than 48 Hours
The Colombian Air Force detected an unauthorized drone in the Engativá sector. Photo: Archive
TL;DR
- An unauthorized drone was detected near Bogotá's El Dorado Airport on April 30th, causing two flights to execute missed approaches and one to divert.
- A similar incident occurred just 48 hours prior, on April 28th, when a commercial drone led to a 45-minute suspension of airport operations.
- The use of drones over airports and aeronautical infrastructure is strictly prohibited in Colombia, with significant fines for violations.
- The airport's anti-drone system has limitations, and protocols often rely on visual reports from crews.
- These drone incidents add to a series of recent safety events at El Dorado, including a near-miss takeoff abort and unauthorized crossings of active runways by other aircraft.