AMSTERDAM- KLM Royal Dutch Airlines (KL) flight from Amsterdam Schiphol Airport (AMS) to Johan Adolf Pengel International Airport (PBM) in Paramaribo, Suriname, diverted to Piarco International Airport (POS) in Trinidad on April 25, 2026.
The diversion occurred after air traffic controller staffing issues at Paramaribo left no tower controller available to authorize landings and departures.
The incident disrupted services for KLM, Surinam Airways (PY), and Fly All Ways (8W), marking the second major ATC-related diversion at Paramaribo (PBM) within 12 months.
Suriname’s government has since held emergency discussions with the Suriname Air Traffic Controllers Association (SATCA) to address the ongoing crisis.
KLM Flight Diverted Due to ATC Shortages
A Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) issued for April 25 initially indicated that no tower controllers would be available at Paramaribo between 08:00 and 15:30 local time.
Authorities later extended the unavailability window to 22:30 the same evening. While the airport maintained an en-route controller, the absence of tower staff meant no aircraft could be cleared for landing or departure.
The inbound KLM flight had already entered Suriname airspace when the decision to divert was made. Crew duty hour limits were approaching expiry, leaving the airline no option but to hold and wait for ATC services to resume.
The aircraft, carrying over 300 passengers, was rerouted to Trinidad’s Piarco International Airport (POS).
Georgetown (GEO) in Guyana, another KLM destination, was geographically closer as a diversion point. However, the airline selected Trinidad due to its greater hotel capacity for accommodating the large number of passengers onboard.
The flight eventually departed Trinidad the following day after lunch and landed in Suriname approximately one hour and 20 minutes later, Gate Checked reported.
Recurring ATC Crisis at Suriname Airports
Air traffic controller staffing shortages at Suriname airports have persisted for several years.
A combination of low wages, poor working conditions, and lengthy training timelines has created a cycle of understaffing that regularly disrupts airspace operations.
This April 2026 event is the second incident in under a year to draw international attention. In October 2025, another KLM flight from Amsterdam was forced to hold for approximately 25 minutes over Suriname before diverting to Cayenne-Félix Eboué Airport (CAY) in French Guiana due to the same staffing problems.
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Government Moves to Address the Staffing Crisis
Following the latest diversion, Suriname’s President Jennifer Geerlings-Simons convened a meeting with the Suriname Air Traffic Controllers Association (SATCA).
Discussions focused on updates to ATC wage structures, accelerated training programs, and measures to ensure service continuity at the country’s airports.
Minister of Transport, Communication, and Tourism Raymond Landveld stated that officials will reconvene within two to three weeks to discuss proposals aimed at permanently resolving the staffing issues.
The outcome of these discussions will be critical for Suriname’s aviation sector, particularly as KLM operates one of the country’s most important international routes connecting Paramaribo to Amsterdam.
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