Warnings issued by the U. S. The warnings, illustrated in the map below, include the Caribbean corridor near the Maiquetía Flight Information Region (SVZM FIR), which covers Venezuela. Why It Matters Reports of warnings about possible disruption to navigation systems and hazards to civilian flights across Venezuelan airspace show broader concerns about escalating tensions in the region as the U. S. has increased its military buildup amid an anti-drug trafficking campaign and pressure on the regime of Nicolás Maduro. Trump is weighing his options, including striking Venezuela and attempting to topple socialist Maduro. What To Know Since September, several civilian aircraft transiting the region experienced disruptions with their Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS), some with effects that persisted well beyond the affected airspace, the FAA said Friday. The FAA issued a separate advisory for pilots operating in or near San Juan, Puerto Rico, urging them to “exercise extreme caution” because of “heightened state aircraft activity” in the area, The Washington Post reported Saturday. Puerto Rico’s Ceiba area has served as a key location for U. S. military aircraft operations and training exercises in recent weeks. Turkish Airlines suspended flights from Istanbul to Caracas from November 24 to 28, according to the Daily Sabah. U. S. airlines have been banned from flying to and from Venezuela since 2019, the same year the U. S. stopped recognizing Maduro as Venezuela’s legitimate president and suspended embassy operations in the country, saying political instability, economic collapse, and corruption in Venezuela have enabled transnational criminal networks to operate freely. Tens of thousands took to the streets in 2019 to protest Maduro’s disputed re‑election, while opposition leader Juan Guaidó declared himself interim president. Human rights organizations, including the United Nations, documented widespread political repression and a mass exodus of Venezuelans fleeing the country. What People Are Saying Mary Schiavo, former inspector general for the Department of Transportation, told The Associated Press Saturday on the FAA warning: “I wouldn’t take it as necessarily there’s any kind of attack is imminent because I’ve seen these issued many times before. But as a pilot myself, I’d certainly heed it.” What Happens Next U. S. operators must now provide 72 hours prior notice to the FAA before flying through Venezuela. The warning stands until February 2026.
https://www.newsweek.com/map-us-flight-warnings-venezuela-military-tensions-11103726
Map Shows US Flight Warnings Amid Venezuela Military Tensions
