Significant chaos erupted at the airport yesterday afternoon due to a critical failure in the air conditioning system. The situation became even more complicated when a leak was detected in the main chiller pipe, located in an underground area. The precise location of the damage and the need to create access for the repairs required a considerable amount of time.

The emergency situation drew the attention of a unit from the Fire Department as well as the CMO (formerly known as the Disaster Management Bureau), who arrived to assist in managing the crisis. After repairing the leak and stabilizing the system, the situation became very challenging, with extreme heat severely affecting the tourists present.

It is estimated that the time needed to complete the repairs was approximately 5 to 7 hours. The airport staff worked tirelessly to resolve the problem as quickly as possible, providing updates as they became available.

Most of the tourists opted to stay at Hyatt Place or take a tour around the island to pass the time. However, the airport was the scene of great disorder, with many travelers deciding to remain at the airport, waiting for their flights.

The intense heat wave played a crucial role in the deterioration of the tourists’ well-being, some of whom were visibly distressed and, in some cases, fell ill due to the extreme conditions. Despite efforts to maintain calm and avoid overcrowding, the extreme heat contributed to growing anxiety among the travelers, who urgently wanted to board their flights and return home.

Meanwhile, later in the afternoon, a report came in stating that for the safety of passengers, Aruba Airport would close to all inbound and outbound flights due to the high temperatures in the terminal caused by the technical problem. The repairs could not be completed in time, and the airport would remain closed until 7:00 AM this morning, Saturday.

The rebooking of flights and hotel accommodations will be covered by Aruba Airport if managed through the airline, and they issued an apology for the inconvenience.

As the news circulated on Facebook and in the press, another chaotic situation arose as tourists, understandably frustrated, began making complaints about the situation. Although this was a force majeure event, it has a direct impact on our tourism, and it is not the first time something like this has happened. Now, we must see if the problem is truly resolved and if all flights resume to their destinations.