WASHINGTON – The U.S. aviation authority FAA is warning airlines about a potentially dangerous situation in the airspace over Venezuela.
According to the FAA, the security situation in and around the country has deteriorated due to increased military activity. These developments pose risks to aircraft at all altitudes, the agency states in an official notice.
The warning comes as the United States has visibly increased its military presence in the Caribbean in recent months. This includes the largest U.S. aircraft carrier, several naval vessels, and F-35 fighter jets.
In recent weeks, the U.S. government has bombed various vessels it says were involved in drug trafficking from Venezuela and other Latin American countries.
Transit Route
Direct passenger and cargo flights between the U.S. and Venezuela have been suspended since 2019. Still, some U.S. airlines continued to use Venezuelan airspace as a transit route toward South America, but that is now changing: American Airlines says it has not flown over the country since October, and Delta states it has not done so “for a long time.”
The FAA requires airlines to report planned flights over Venezuela at least 72 hours in advance, but a total ban has not been imposed.
Risks
The agency does point to concrete risks: since September, interference with navigation systems (GNSS) in the region has increased, and the FAA reports that Venezuela has conducted large military exercises and mobilized thousands of troops.
According to the FAA, the Venezuelan military possesses advanced fighter aircraft and weapons systems capable of reaching altitudes where commercial aircraft also operate.
Additionally, air defense systems could pose a risk to traffic at lower altitudes. At the same time, the agency emphasizes that Venezuela has not expressed any intention to threaten civil aviation.
