Several U.S. and international airlines suspended flights into Venezuela over the weekend after the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued a rare 90-day advisory warning that civilian aircraft could face elevated risks in Venezuelan airspace.
The FAA cited a “massive buildup of military forces around Venezuela,” warning of “worsening security” and “heightened military activity.” The alert highlights growing instability surrounding socialist dictator Nicolás Maduro — and the potential danger to commercial flights entering or flying over the region.
Following the FAA warning, multiple carriers shut down service, including Spain’s Iberia, Portugal’s TAP, Chile’s LATAM, Colombia’s Avianca, and Brazil’s GOL, according to the Venezuelan Airlines Association. Turkish Airlines said it would suspend flights from Nov. 24–28. U.S. carriers American Airlines and United confirmed to CBS they already ceased flying over Venezuelan airspace.
Despite the FAA advisory giving a recommended deadline of Feb. 19, 2026, it remains unclear when airlines will resume normal operations.
“Threats could pose a potential risk to aircraft at all altitudes, including during overflight, arrival and departure phases of flight, and aircraft on the ground,” the FAA warned. The agency cited increasing interference with satellite navigation systems and Venezuela’s rapid military mobilization as critical factors.
Some airlines — including Venezuela’s LASER, Panama’s Copa Airlines, Spain’s Air Europa, and PlusUltra — are still operating flights but are now required to notify the FAA at least 72 hours before entering Venezuelan airspace and provide detailed flight plans.
The situation unfolds as U.S. forces maintain an enhanced presence in the region. According to reports, the U.S. military has carried out 21 known strikes on drug-smuggling vessels, killing more than 80 individuals connected to narcotics operations. Whether those vessels posed a direct threat to U.S. security remains unclear, but lawmakers in Washington from both parties are demanding more thorough briefings from the administration.
Meanwhile, tensions with the Maduro regime continue to escalate.
On Nov. 16, President Donald Trump officially designated the Cartel de los Soles — a drug-trafficking organization allegedly run by Maduro and other high-level socialist officials — as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO). The designation takes effect Monday and grants the administration sweeping new tools to target the regime and its narco-terrorist operations throughout the Caribbean.
“This new label gives us a whole bunch of new options” to confront the cartel and its backers, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth said Thursday.
The U.S. recognizes Maduro as an illegitimate dictator, aligning with several Western nations.
To reinforce regional security, the U.S. currently has 15,000 troops positioned near Venezuela, along with the world’s most advanced aircraft carrier — the USS Gerald R. Ford — deployed nearby. Multiple U.S. fighter jets are also stationed in Puerto Rico, just 500 miles off Venezuela’s coast.
As Venezuela’s socialist regime continues destabilizing the region and fueling international security concerns, the FAA’s warning — and subsequent airline suspensions — underscore the seriousness of the threat emerging from Maduro’s tightening military posture.
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