Flight Diversions After Bomb Threat at Aruba TNCA
The day takes a turn
I’m used to getting WhatsApp messages telling me a weather diversion is coming to Curaçao. One day, we even received diversions because of faulty terminal air conditioning in Aruba. Today’s situation was something else. The message ?
“Possible diversions coming to you, bomb threat Aruba”!
Security incident reported
Jetblue flight 473 was on the ground at Aruba’s Reina Beatrix International Airport (AUA/TNCA) following a flight from Boston Logan International Airport (BOS/KBOS). At some point, an unspecified threat was received (later reported to be a bomb threat) and caused Aruba’s only runway to close. All inbound flights were diverted to other airports around the region and passenger access to the terminal was restricted.
Flights get diverted
The aircraft, an Airbus A321-231 registered N956JT, was parked in a remote part of the airport with its passengers still on board. Multiple aircrafts were diverted to Bonaire (BON/TNCB), Barranquilla (BAQ/SKBQ). San Juan (SJU/TJSJ), Miami (MIA/KMIA)and Punta Cana (PUJ/MDPC). 4 Flights were diverted to Curaçao (CUR/TNCC):
American Airlines 874 (Boeing 737-823, N845NN);
American Airlines 870 (Airbus A321-231, N133AN);
Southwest Airlines 1443 (Boeing 737-7H4, N436WN); and
Delta Airlines 613 (Airbus A321-271NX, N511DE).
A safe ending
In Aruba, the passengers from Jetblue 473 were allowed to exit the aircraft after two hours on-board and were thoroughly checked by immigration officials and police K9 units. The situation was subsequently determined by authorities to have been a hoax and the airport resumed operations at around 5pm.
See more TNCA aviation photography from Aruba Spotter Day 2025.
(Click an image to enlarge)
© 2026 Patrick Lalande. All rights reserved.
