A powerful magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck western Colombia on Monday, August 10, prompting the preventive suspension of commercial operations at several airports. The quake, recorded at 7:34 a.m. local time near San José del Palmar in the Chocó department, was felt across much of Colombia and into Ecuador. The Colombian Geological Service confirmed it as the strongest earthquake in the country in a decade, with a depth of approximately 96 kilometers. While the Alfonso Bonilla Aragón International Airport in Cali, the country's third-largest urban area, resumed operations after inspections, six regional airports remained closed pending structural assessments. The Colombian Civil Aeronautics (Aerocivil) identified damage or anomalies at Pereira-Matecaña, Manizales-La Nubia, Quibdó-El Caraño, Armenia-El Edén, Cartago-Santa Ana, and Buenaventura-Gerardo Tobar López. "For safety reasons, air operations at these terminals remain suspended until the evaluation of structural damage to infrastructure is completed," Aerocivil stated. Post-earthquake inspections are far more comprehensive than a simple visual check of the passenger terminal. Teams must examine runways, taxiways, and aprons for cracks, deformations, or debris. They also verify lighting systems, electrical power, communication and navigation aids, air traffic control facilities, and fuel infrastructure. A runway that appears intact is not enough; the entire safety chain must be declared operational before commercial flights resume. Aerocivil mobilized firefighting, search and rescue, and technical personnel to support these evaluations, prioritizing medical and government flights during the initial crisis phase. The closures primarily affect western and central-western Colombia, a region where air travel is vital due to the challenging Andean terrain and vulnerable road infrastructure. Quibdó, the capital of Chocó, lies near the epicenter; Pereira, Manizales, and Armenia serve the coffee axis, while Buenaventura provides air access to Colombia's main Pacific port. Aerocivil advised travelers to check with their airlines before heading to the airport and to stay tuned to official channels. Separately, the Guillermo León Valencia Airport in Popayán faced restrictions due to ash and gas emissions from the Puracé volcano, compounding pressure on air services in the southwest. For aviation students, this event underscores the critical importance of airport emergency procedures and infrastructure resilience. Understanding how authorities assess and restore operational status after natural disasters is a key component of airport management and safety protocols, directly relevant to ATPL and ATC training.