February 2, 2017
This message is to inform U.S. citizens that U.S. Consulate General Curaçao has temporarily prohibited U.S. Consulate Curacao personnel from flying on Insel Air. The Consulate adopted this policy following an internal review of safety-related considerations. You are receiving this message because Insel Air also flies to Suriname.
On December 27, 2016, an Insel Air flight bound for Curaçao was forced to land in Colombia due to an inability to pressurize the cabin. On January 13, 2017, an Insel Air flight bound for Miami lost cabin pressure and was forced to make an emergency landing. The Consulate understands that, in the last six months, four other Insel Air flights have returned to Curaçao after takeoff due to pressurization or electrical problems. Other safety considerations have led Aruban and Curaçao authorities to ground a number of aircraft for further inspection. This policy applies only to the official travel of U.S. Consulate Curacao personnel and will be reevaluated as Insel Air’s safety condition improves.
- For further information about security in Suriname, French Guiana, and Curaçao:
See the State Department’s travel website for the Worldwide Caution, Travel Warnings, Travel Alerts, and Suriname, French Giuana, or Curaçao Country Specific Information. - Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive security messages and make it easier to locate you in an emergency.
- The U.S. Embassy Suriname is located at Kristalstraat, Paramaribo, Suriname. During business hours, call +597 472-900. For after-hours emergencies, call +597 710-1112. If calling from the United States, dial 011 before the number. If calling from the following islands, enter the appropriate code before the number: Aruba (00); Bonaire (00), Saba (00), St. Maarten (011), St. Eustatius (00). You can email the American Citizen Services Section at caparamar@state.gov. The United States Embassy in Suriname serves U.S. citizens in Suriname and French Guiana.
- The U.S. Consulate General in Curaçao is located at J.B. Gorsiraweg 1, Curaçao. During business hours, call +599(9) 461-3066. For after-hours emergencies, call +599(9) 510-6870. If calling from the United States, dial 011 before the number. If calling from the following islands, enter the appropriate code before the number: Aruba (00); Bonaire (00), Saba (00), St. Maarten (011), St. Eustatius (00). You can email the American Citizen Services Section at acscuracao@state.gov. The United States Consulate General in Curaçao serves U.S. citizens in Aruba, Bonaire, Curaçao, Saba, St. Maarten, and St. Eustatius.
