WILLEMSTAD – Air traffic control services over Curaçao were fully disrupted for several hours on Monday evening due to an electrical failure at the Area Control Centre (ACC) in Mahuma.
According to initial information, smoke developed in the air traffic control operations room as a result of overloaded equipment, triggering the automatic fire suppression system. The fire department subsequently conducted an inspection of the facility.
As a consequence of the incident, an “ATC Zero” was declared at 8:11 p.m. local time for the entire Curaçao Flight Information Region (FIR). This meant that no en-route air traffic control services were available over Curaçao, forcing all aircraft to avoid the airspace.
International overflight traffic was diverted to neighboring flight information regions, including routing through San Juan. The ATC Zero status remained in effect until midnight, causing delays and rerouting, particularly for regional and international flights passing through the area.
The control tower at Hato International Airport remained operational throughout the incident. As a result, takeoffs and landings at Curaçao were able to continue under specific conditions. The TUI flight OR381 from Curaçao to Amsterdam, for example, departed as scheduled.
Authorities have confirmed that the incident was technical in nature and not the result of a fire within the building. An investigation is underway to determine the exact cause of the electrical failure.