WILLEMSTAD – Curaçao intends to file a formal complaint with the United States, together with the Netherlands and Aruba, over alleged violations of Caribbean airspace by U.S. military aircraft.
U.S. military forces have significantly increased their presence in the region amid escalating tensions between Washington and Caracas. Multiple naval vessels, including an aircraft carrier, are currently operating in the area, alongside fighter jets, reconnaissance aircraft, drones, and bombers conducting missions in and around the southern Caribbean.
Near-Miss Incidents Raise Safety Concerns
The planned complaint follows two serious near-miss incidents reported over the weekend. A JetBlue Airbus narrowly avoided a collision with a U.S. military refueling aircraft, while a business jet reportedly came close to a similar incident the following day.
According to available information, the military aircraft involved were flying without active transponders and were not in contact with Curaçao’s air traffic control, making them difficult to detect for civilian aircraft and local aviation authorities.
Regional Context and Aviation Risks
The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has already declared Venezuelan airspace closed to civil aviation due to heightened military activity. However, Venezuelan-controlled airspace borders directly on Curaçao’s Flight Information Region, which is used daily by a large number of commercial and tourist flights.
Curaçao is now calling on the United States to ensure that its military aircraft comply with international aviation rules when operating near or within the island’s airspace. This includes the mandatory use of transponders and maintaining communication with local air traffic control to prevent potentially dangerous situations.
The issue has intensified regional concerns about aviation safety and coordination as military operations increase in the southern Caribbean, placing added pressure on civilian air traffic corridors vital to tourism and regional connectivity.