https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/2026/01/16/faa-warns-airlines-venezuela/88221735007/
"The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration said on Jan. 16 it is issuing
a series of warnings to airlines to exercise caution when flying over
Central America and parts of South America, citing the risks of
potential military activities and GPS interference.
"'The FAA issued flight advisory Notices to Airmen (NOTAMs) for
specified areas of Mexico, Central American, Panama, Bogata, Guayaquil,
and Mazatlán Oceanic Flight Regions, and in airspace within the eastern
Pacific Ocean,' the agency told USA TODAY in a statement. The advisory
began on Jan. 16, and will last 60 days.
"The FAA did not respond to USA TODAY requests for information about
what prompted the alert. Other U.S. officials, including at the White
House and the State Department did not immediately respond to requests
for information. The Pentagon referred questions back to the FAA.
"USA TODAY also reached out to several major U.S. airlines, including
Delta Air Lines, Spirit Airlines, JetBlue Airways and American Airlines.
A United Airlines spokesperson told USA TODAY in an email that the
carrier is monitoring the situation.
"The warnings come amid increased tensions between the United States and
regional leaders after the Trump administration mounted a large-scale
military buildup in the southern Caribbean, attacked Venezuela and
seized the country's president, Nicolás Maduro in a military operation.
President Donald Trump has raised the possibility of other military
actions in the area, including against Colombia.
"Trump said last week that cartels were running Mexico and suggested the
U.S. could strike land targets to combat them, in one of a series of
threats to deploy U.S. military force against drug cartels.
"Mexico responded to the FAA's advisory, saying it is only a precaution
and does not restrict Mexican airspace or airlines. The notice applies
solely to U.S. operators, and aviation operations in Mexico remain
unaffected, the ministry said in a Jan. 16 statement.
"After the attack on Venezuela, the FAA curbed flights throughout the
Caribbean, which forced the cancellation of hundreds of flights by major
airlines. FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford told Reuters earlier this week
there had been good coordination between the agency and U.S. military
before the Venezuela operation.
"Last month, a JetBlue passenger jet bound for New York took evasive
action to avoid a mid-air collision with a U.S. Air Force tanker plane
near Venezuela. JetBlue Flight 1112 had departed the Caribbean nation of
Curaçao and was flying about 40 miles off the coast of Venezuela when
the Airbus plane reported encountering the Air Force jet, which did not
have its transponder activated.
"Earlier this month, the FAA temporarily suspended nearly all commercial
flights around Puerto Rico and the Caribbean, leaving thousands of
travelers stranded from canceled flights and scrambling to be Earlier
this month, the FAA temporarily suspended nearly all commercial flights
around Puerto Rico and the Caribbean, leaving thousands of travelers
stranded from canceled flights and scrambling to be rebooked."--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Revised: 20250507
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