A Copa Airlines Boeing 737-800, registration HP-1532CMP, was climbing out of Medellin’s runway 01 when the left-hand engine began to emit bangs and streaks of flames, prompting the crew to stop the climb at 13000 feet and return to Medellin for a safe landing on runway 01 about 25 minutes after departure.
With a 12.5-hour delay, a replacement Boeing 737-800 with the registration HP-1535CMP arrived in Punta Cana.
The elevation of Medellin Airport is 7027 feet MSL.