WILLEMSTAD - The Curaçao Civil Aviation Authority (CCAA) has issued an international aviation alert (NOTAM) after multiple unidentified aircraft were detected operating in the airspace surrounding Aruba, Bonaire and Curaçao. The warning urges all airlines and pilots to exercise extreme caution when flying in and out of the ABC Islands.
According to operational information, both pilots and radar systems have confirmed the presence of unknown aircraft maneuvering in the region in recent days. The CCAA states that these sightings were picked up on primary radar and occurred in the terminal area—the critical zone where aircraft climb, descend and cross paths.
The alert applies from FL030 (approximately 900 meters) and upward, and remains in effect until at least December 31.
Aviation Authorities on High Alert
The CCAA instructs all flight crews to immediately report any “unusual or suspicious air activity” to air traffic control. Such warnings are rare for the ABC Islands, where the terminal zone is typically one of the most tightly monitored parts of the region’s controlled airspace.
Aviation sources describe the recent sightings as “unusual and concerning,” noting that unidentified aircraft in controlled approach zones are a direct hazard to civil aviation.
Regional Tension and Impact on Flight Routes
The NOTAM comes at a time when the southern Caribbean is experiencing heightened geopolitical tension. The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued its own advisory on Friday, warning of increased military activity and deteriorating safety conditions in Venezuelan airspace.
Several major airlines—including KLM, Iberia, Avianca, TAP and GOL—have already begun avoiding or canceling flights to Venezuela due to the escalating risks.
The impact is already being felt in Curaçao’s region. For example, on Thursday morning a DHL Boeing 757 departing from Curaçao to Trinidad altered its usual route to avoid Venezuelan airspace entirely. Similar diversions are expected to increase in the coming days.
DHL aircraft altered its route
Airlines Expected to Avoid Venezuelan FIR
With the FAA NOTAM now active and the CCAA warning in effect, aviation analysts anticipate that more airlines will reroute to avoid the Venezuelan Flight Information Region (FIR), which has become increasingly unpredictable in recent weeks.
The CCAA’s alert focuses specifically on the terminal airspace around the ABC Islands, signaling that the concern extends beyond Venezuelan territory and into local Caribbean air corridors.
The aviation community is monitoring developments closely, as both commercial and cargo carriers assess route safety in an increasingly dynamic and sensitive airspace.
Authorities urge pilots and operations departments to remain vigilant and follow all updated NOTAM instructions to ensure safe navigation around the region.