SINT MAARTEN — Shortly after 04:00 a.m. on Wednesday August 26th 2026, Central Police Dispatch received information concerning a strong odor of oil/fuel reportedly coming from the vicinity of the Princess Juliana International Airport (PJIAE) and the lagoon area near the Win-Air office along Airport Road.
Upon receiving the report, the necessary emergency and governmental entities, including the Fire Department, Coast Guard, and other relevant authorities, were immediately informed and directed to the area to assess the situation.
The responsible authorities are currently on location and are conducting the necessary investigations to determine the source of the odor and whether a fuel or oil spill has occurred.
The company operating at PJIAE that manages the airport’s fuel operations is also working together with PJIAE and the relevant authorities to investigate the situation and determine the appropriate measures to mitigate any potential impact.
At this time, the cause and extent of the reported situation have not yet been established.
As a precautionary measure, residents and persons in the surrounding area who are experiencing irritation or discomfort from the odor are advised to keep their windows and doors closed and limit exposure to the odor until further information is available.
KPSM, together with the other responding agencies, PJIAE, and the company responsible for managing the airport’s fuel operations, will continue to monitor the situation and provide further information to the public as it becomes available.
