WILLEMSTAD – Curaçao’s Civil Aviation Authority (CCAA) has moved to calm public concern following reports of a second near-collision in the island’s airspace last weekend, stating that the situation in question did not constitute an aviation incident.
According to the director of the CCAA, the second case involved a routine air traffic management procedure rather than a dangerous encounter. Air traffic controllers detected an unidentified object on radar within the projected flight path of a civilian aircraft and immediately instructed the pilot to adjust course.
“That is exactly how the system is designed to function,” the CCAA director said. “There was no danger and no near-collision.”
JetBlue Case Still Under Review
The first reported incident, involving a JetBlue aircraft, remains under investigation. In that case, an unidentified aircraft—believed to be a military plane—was operating in the vicinity of the passenger flight without satellite-based identification. The flight crew detected the situation independently and took corrective action as a precaution.
The aviation authority said it expects to provide further clarity later this week regarding the actual level of risk involved in that encounter.
Increased Military Activity, No Flight Disruptions
The CCAA confirmed that military air traffic in the region has increased in recent weeks, partly due to heightened tensions between the United States and Venezuela. Military aircraft may, under certain circumstances, operate without identification visible on civilian aviation systems, a practice the authority described as not unusual in itself.
Despite the increased activity, the aviation authority stressed that Curaçao’s airspace remains safe for commercial aviation. Airlines have previously been informed through official safety advisories and are conducting their own risk assessments. To date, no airline has indicated plans to cancel or modify flights to or from Curaçao.
Call for Calm and Context
The CCAA urged the public to interpret reports with caution, particularly information circulating on social media and flight-tracking applications.
“Not everything seen or heard online automatically means there is a crisis situation,” the director emphasized.
Authorities say they will continue to monitor developments closely and keep airlines and the public informed as needed.