The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has issued a warning to airlines about the risks of flying over Venezuela, citing a potentially hazardous situation due to heightened military activity and security concerns. The advisory, issued in response to the significant increase in U.S. military presence in the Caribbean, urges operators to exercise caution when operating in the Maiquetia flight information region. The FAA emphasized that threats could pose a potential risk to aircraft at all altitudes, including during overflight, arrival, and departure phases of flight, and requested airlines to provide at least 72-hour advance notice if they plan to fly through the area.
Meanwhile, the U.S. has significantly increased its military presence in the Caribbean under U.S. Southern Command, deploying bombers, warships, and Marines as part of an expanded campaign targeting drug-trafficking and so-called ‘narco-terrorist’ networks operating near Venezuela. This move comes as part of a broader effort to address security challenges in the region, with the Department of Defense announcing a new operation aimed at removing ‘narco-terrorists’ from the hemisphere. The FAA advisory also highlighted the increased presence of U.S. military forces in the area, which has raised concerns about potential conflicts with Venezuelan military activities.
The FAA also warned about the potential impact of Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) interference in the Maiquetia Flight Information Region (SVZM FIR). Civil aircraft have reported GNSS interference while transiting the area, which, in some cases, caused lingering effects throughout the flight. GNSS jammers and spoofers can affect aircraft out to 250 nautical miles, potentially impacting critical communication, navigation, surveillance, and safety equipment on board. The FAA noted that Venezuela has conducted multiple military exercises and directed the mass mobilization of thousands of military and reserve forces, although it has not expressed an intent to target civil aviation. However, the Venezuelan military possesses advanced fighter aircraft and multiple weapons systems capable of reaching or exceeding civil aircraft operating altitudes, as well as the potential for low-altitude risk from man-portable air defense systems and anti-aircraft artillery.
Direct flights from U.S. passenger and cargo carriers to Venezuela have been suspended since 2019, but some airlines still fly over the country on their South American routes. American Airlines announced that it stopped flying over Venezuela in October, while Delta Air Lines said it stopped ‘a while ago.’