WILLEMSTAD – The Dutch Association of Airline Pilots (Vereniging Nederlandse Verkeersvliegers, VNV) has voiced serious concerns about aviation safety over Curaçao following two recent near-collision incidents involving civil aircraft and U.S. military planes operating without active transponders. Pilots are now calling for tough measures to prevent future risks in the island’s busy skies.
The warnings come after a JetBlue passenger flight departing Curaçao on Friday and a separate civil business jet on Saturday were forced to take evasive action to avoid dangerously close encounters with what are believed to be American military aircraft. In both cases, the tanker jets reportedly flew without transponders activated, making them effectively invisible to civilian radar and limiting situational awareness for both air traffic control and nearby aircraft.
VNV pilots stress that the lack of transponder signals and coordination violates fundamental airspace safety practices and increases the risk of catastrophic accidents. “Without transponders on, other aircraft and controllers cannot properly see where these planes are or how fast they are traveling,” the association noted in its statement, urging immediate action.
Proposed Safety Measures
Among the changes VNV is calling for are:
- Clear establishment of military flight corridors separate from civil routes.
- Stricter air traffic control procedures to ensure proper separation of military and civilian flights.
- Mandatory use of identification transponders or other tracking technology by military aircraft in shared airspace.
- Enhanced coordination and transparency between military operators and civil air traffic authorities.
- Joint investigation frameworks with international bodies whenever military activity intersects with commercial aviation.
The pilots’ group says these steps are necessary not only to protect passenger flights, but also to reassure crews of both commercial and general aviation that they can operate safely in the region’s increasingly complex airspace.
Context of Increased Military Activity
The controversy follows a pattern of heightened U.S. military activity in the southern Caribbean, driven by operations aimed at countering drug trafficking and applying pressure on Venezuela. This presence has resulted in more non-routine aircraft movements near the airspace of Curaçao, Aruba, and Bonaire. Civil aviation authorities had earlier warned pilots to remain vigilant due to unidentified air traffic in the region.
Government Response and Aviation Authority Review
Meanwhile, the Curaçao air traffic control authority DC-ANSP has acknowledged the incidents and stated that both reports are being carefully investigated in cooperation with competent authorities, emphasizing that flight safety remains the highest priority. However, DC-ANSP has not yet released detailed findings or identified responsible aircraft types.
Opposition politicians on Curaçao have also amplified concerns, urging the government to take political action to ensure the island’s airspace sovereignty and safety, calling on international partners to respect local protocols.
Risk vs. Frequency
Aviation analysts note that while the statistical probability of a mid-air collision remains low, the consequences of any such event are severe — heightening the urgency for improved monitoring, communication, and joint procedures between military and civil aviation stakeholders.
As investigations continue, the VNV’s plea underscores broader industry concerns over how military and civilian aviation can safely share increasingly crowded skies — particularly amid geopolitical tensions and enhanced military operations in the Caribbean region.