WILLEMSTAD – All Z Air flights were canceled on Monday, leaving passengers stranded at Hato Airport for hours without clear information. Many travelers were eventually sent home without alternative arrangements. Terry van Ommen, business consultant for Z Air, stated that an update on the situation will be provided soon. 

Technical Issue Grounds Flights 

According to Van Ommen, the cancellations were due to a technical issue with one of the aircraft, emphasizing that safety is the top priority. The issue arose during takeoff and could not be resolved according to pilot protocol. A replacement part was flown in as a priority, and a backup aircraft is already on its way. Another plane was expected to be operational again by 4:00 PM. 

Passengers Stranded in Curaçao and Colombia 

Z Air arranged hotel accommodations for stranded passengers in Colombia, but due to limited availability, no such arrangements were made for passengers in Curaçao. Van Ommen assured that airport staff at Hato were informed and that all online inquiries via the airline's chatbot had been answered. 

A new update on the situation is expected Tuesday afternoon, according to Van Ommen.