Venezuela Earthquake Relief Operations Bring Exceptional Military Traffic to Curaçao
A powerful magnitude 7.5 earthquake struck Venezuela on June 24th 2026, followed by a magnitude 7.2 aftershock the following day, triggering a significant international humanitarian response. Curaçao's Hato International Airport (TNCC/CUR), with its established US military Forward Operating Location, has become a key staging point for relief operations into Venezuela, bringing an exceptional variety of military aircraft to the island over the past several days.
A first for the island of Curaçao has been the deployment of six Boeing MV-22B Osprey from Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 365 (VMM-365) “Blue Knights”, conducting daily missions between Curaçao and Venezuela carrying personnel and supplies. The deployed aircraft are BuNo (Bureau Number) 168643, 168676, 166485, 168337, 168650 and 168672, all originating from Ceiba Jose de la Torre Airport, Puerto Rico (NRR/TJRV). VMM-365 is home-based at Marine Corps Air Station New River, North Carolina (NCA/KNCA).
Germany sent 4 Airbus A400M (54+05, 54+08, 54+09 and 54+47) to nearby Aruba (AUA/TNCA) and Caracas (CCS/SVMI) on June 26th carrying members of the Federal Agency for technical Relief (THW) and its Rapid Deployment Unit for rescue Operations Abroad (SEEBA). 54+08 relocated to Curaçao on June 27th to transport supplies and equipment flown in from Prague, Czech Republic (PRG/LKPR) by a NATO A330MRTT (Serial T-055). Aircraft 54+05 and 54+09 returned to Germany on June 27th. All of the aircraft are operated by Lufttransportgeschwader 62 (Air Transport Wing) based at Wunstorf Airbase, Germany.
June 26th saw Strategic Airlift Capability (SAC) Heavy Airlift Wing (HAW) Boeing C-17A serial 08-0003 fly to El Libertador airbase (SVBL) in Venezuela, carrying personnel and equipment from the Dutch Urban Search & rescue (USAR) team. BARTOK 54 originated from Eindhoven Airbase (EIN/EHEH) in the Netherlands on June 25th and made an overnight stop at Terceira Lajes Airport, Azores (TER/LPLA). Having dropped off the USAR team’s 65 member, along with 8 search dogs, the heavy-lift aircraft proceeded to Curaçao, and remained there until it departed for Papa Airbase (QHP/LHPA) in Hungary on June 29th (The aircraft had departed for Budapest (BUD/LHBD) on June 28th but experienced an autopilot malfunction over the Atlantic and returned to Curaçao).
US Air force Dornier C-146A Wolfhound serial 11-3031 arrived from Balboa (BLB/MPPA) on June 27th using callsign MAGMA 88, making a total of two trips from Panama that day. Over the following days, the aircraft remained parked at the Jet Center Curaçao FBO, finally flying to CCS/SVMI on June 30th at approximately 6pm. A second Wolfhound, serial 12-3047, arrived on June 30th from BLB/MPPA via Cartagena, Colombia (CTG/SKCG)as MAGMA 89.
In another island first, US Army CH-47F Chinook helicopters began operations from Curaçao. Serials 17-08235 and 17-08236 made the long flight from Soto Cano Air Base, Honduras (XPL/MHPR) via Balboa (BLB/MPPA), Colon (ONX/MPEJ), Barranquilla (BAQ/SKBQ) and Oranjestad (AUA/TNCA) on June 27th. Both helicopters are assigned to the US Army’s 1st Battalion, 228th Aviation Regiment, the only forward-deployed aviation unit for US Southern Command.
For this operation, the USAF has so far employed several Boeing C-17As from multiple units across the US. While most have flown directly to Venezuela, a few made stops in Curaçao before proceeding home, including serial 96-0002 from the 437th Airlift Wing/315th Airlift Wing at Joint Base Charleston, South Carolina.
US Marine Corps KC-130J BuNo 170040 made multiple trips to Curaçao and Caracas from its base in NRR/TJRV using the callsign GROG 71. The tanker undoubtably supported the 6 Sikorsky MV-22 Ospreys deployed to Curacao since June 26th, in addition to transport flights in and out of Venezuela. A second USMC KC-130J, BuNo 170279, also made appearances in Curacao using the callsign GROG 72, operating from Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina (NKT/KNKT).
A big surprise on June 29th was OM-BYA, a Slovak Government Airbus A319-115(CJ). The aircraft was flying to Caracas from TER/LPLA but declared a medical emergency on board and diverted to Curaçao. After approximately one hour at the terminal, the aircraft continued to Caracas to deliver a USAR team and 2 tons of humanitarian aid.
© 2026 Patrick Lalande. All rights reserved.
