KRALENDIJK, CARACAS - A private aircraft that had been grounded for months on Bonaire by the Dutch Human Environment and Transport Inspectorate (ILT) has reportedly been shot down by Venezuelan authorities after entering the country’s airspace over the state of Apure.

According to Venezuelan broadcaster Globovisión, the Bolivarian National Armed Forces (FANB) announced on October 26 that they had “neutralized an unauthorized aircraft” as part of ongoing operations against illegal air activity. Images released by Venezuelan officials show the wreckage of a small plane bearing the registration XB-RED.

Plane Linked to Bonaire

Local aviation sources on Bonaire confirmed that an aircraft with that same registration had been stationed at Flamingo International Airport since October 2024, after being grounded by the ILT for regulatory reasons.

According to these sources, the aircraft’s operators were later granted limited permission to conduct a local demonstration flight to test ADS-B functionality — a tracking and safety system used in aviation. Instead, the plane allegedly departed southward, leaving local authorities puzzled.

Unconfirmed reports suggest the aircraft’s transponder was switched off shortly after takeoff, making it invisible to radar systems. The circumstances surrounding how the aircraft was able to depart from Bonaire despite its grounding order remain unclear.

Fatal Outcome and Unanswered Questions

Venezuelan authorities have not released official details about the occupants or cargo, but regional sources indicate that the plane was piloted by two Colombian nationals, both of whom were killed in the incident.

Neither the ILT nor Bonaire’s local authorities have issued a statement regarding the aircraft’s unauthorized departure.

The incident raises serious questions about aviation oversight and enforcement on the island — particularly how a grounded aircraft managed to take off, cross international airspace, and ultimately be destroyed by a foreign military force.

As investigations continue, aviation experts warn that the case could have broader implications for regional air safety and cross-border coordination between Dutch Caribbean and Latin American authorities. 

Source: Bonaire.nu