WILLEMSTAD, THE HAGUE – The airspace over Curaçao will not be closed despite two recent near-collisions between civilian aircraft and U.S. military planes, according to outgoing Dutch Minister of Foreign Affairs David van Weel (VVD). Dutch authorities maintain that while the incidents are serious, they do not warrant shutting down one of the Caribbean’s key aviation corridors.
Speaking in the Netherlands, Van Weel said there is currently no justification for closing Curaçao’s airspace. He stressed that the region’s airspace is extensive and remains vital for international air traffic. At the same time, he acknowledged that the reported incidents are being examined to determine what occurred and what measures may be needed to ensure safety going forward.
Meanwhile, Curaçao’s Minister of Economic Development, Roderick Middelhof (MFK), emphasized that the island continues to be a safe travel destination. His remarks come amid growing concern among pilots and aviation experts, who warn that risks remain high as long as military aircraft operate in or near civilian airspace without active transponders.
The issue has also drawn attention from the Association of Dutch Commercial Pilots (VNV), which has called for the temporary closure of the airspace, arguing that the current situation poses unacceptable safety risks for commercial aviation.
The near-miss incidents occurred against the backdrop of increased U.S. military activity in the southern Caribbean, linked to escalating tensions between Washington and Caracas. Last Friday, a JetBlue Airbus A320 was forced to take evasive action to avoid a U.S. military refueling aircraft. A day later, a business jet narrowly avoided a similar encounter. In both cases, the military aircraft were flying with their transponders switched off, making them difficult to detect for both air traffic control and other aircraft.
Adding to the concerns, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued a warning this week about a “deteriorating security situation” in Venezuelan airspace, urging airlines to exercise heightened caution during overflights as well as during arrivals and departures in the region.
While Dutch and Curaçaoan authorities insist that the situation does not justify closing the airspace, the incidents have intensified debate within the Kingdom of the Netherlands about aviation safety, military coordination, and the balance between regional security operations and civilian air traffic in the Caribbean.