The Federal Aviation Administration has issued an advisory urging airlines to exercise caution when flying over Venezuela due to a potentially hazardous situation in the region. The warning, which affects the Maiquetia flight information region, comes as the U.S. has significantly increased its military presence in the Caribbean, with deployments of bombers, warships, and Marines to target drug trafficking and ‘narco-terrorist’ networks. The FAA’s advisory highlights the worsening security environment and the heightened military activity in Venezuela and its vicinity, prompting airlines to provide at least 72 hours’ advance notice before flying through the area.
The advisory comes as the U.S. has significantly increased its military presence across 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. The FAA’s advisory emphasizes that operators are advised to exercise caution when operating in the Maiquetia flight information region at all altitudes due to the worsening security situation and heightened military activity in or around Venezuela.
Operators are warned that threats could pose a potential risk to aircraft at all altitudes, including during overflight, the arrival and departure phases of flight, and/or airports and aircraft on the ground. The FAA is requesting airlines to provide at least 72-hour advance notice to the FAA if they plan to fly through the area. The FAA’s advisory notes that since September 2025, there has been an increase in Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) interference in the Maiquetia Flight Information Region (SVZM FIR), as well as activity associated with increasing Venezuela military readiness.
Furthermore, the FAA has stated that some civil aircraft recently reported GNSS interference while transiting the SVZM FIR, which, in some cases, caused lingering effects throughout the flight. GNSS jammers and spoofers can affect aircraft out to 250 nautical miles and can impact a wide variety of critical communication, navigation, surveillance, and safety equipment on aircraft. Additionally, since early September, Venezuela has conducted multiple military exercises and directed the mass mobilization of thousands of military and reserve forces.
While Venezuela has at no point expressed an intent to target civil aviation, the Venezuelan military possesses advanced fighter aircraft and multiple weapons systems capable of reaching or exceeding civil aircraft operating altitudes, as well as potential low-altitude risk from man-portable air defense systems and anti-aircraft artillery. The FAA’s advisory serves as a reminder of the potential risks to aviation safety in the region and encourages airlines to take appropriate precautions before operating flights through the area.