US movements
The Cooperative Security Location (CSL) in Curaçao had been rather quiet since the WC-130Js were in residence for hurricane Melissa back in October last year.
Things suddenly changed, and I got a chance to photograph a US Department of State (DoS) aircraft.
First to arrive was a Falcon 900 registered N610RL, Flying in from Washington’s Dulles International Airport (IAD/KIAD) on January 7th. Later the same day, a Beechcraft Super King Air 350 registered N7033U also arrived in Curaçao from Bogota (BOG/SKBO). Both aircraft parked on the CSL ramp.
On January 8th, a US DoS Dash8-300, registered N569AW, arrived from Miami (MIA/KMIA) at approximately 230pm using the callsign “STATE 69” and also parked at the CSL. Later that evening, a fourth aircraft, Beechcraft King Air 350 registered N846DJ joined the group at the US facility, having flown from BOG/SKBO.
On the morning of January 9th, both N569AW and N7033U departed Curaçao and headed South-East, landing in Caracas, Venezuela (CCS/SVMI)
N7033U is reported to be operated by Silver Creek Aviation, widely believed to be a shell company related to the US Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA). N846DJ is registered to Heritage Aviation management Limited. N610RL is registered to FalconRL LLC.
Also of interest, despite not operating from Curacao, was N96MG, a Pallas Aviation Lockheed C-130J Super Hercules that flew from San Juan’s Luis Munoz Marin International Airport, Puerto Rico (SJU/TJSJ) to Caracas as “SANDSTONE 08”. Pallas aviation, and its predecessor Tepper Aviation, have long been linked to the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)and American intelligence operations.
At 4pm, Both N7033U and N96MG departed Caracas, bound for Bogota and San Juan respectively. N610RL departed Curaçao at 520pm bound for SAN Juan. The Dash8, N569AW, returned to Curaçao at around 7pm. At publication time, N846DJ was still in Curaçao.
News report, confirm by both governments, indicate that these aircraft transported US diplomatic and security personel making preparations for re-opening the US embassy in the Venezuelan capital.
(Click an image to enlarge)
© 2026 Patrick Lalande. All rights reserved.
