The deployment of its fleet and a US warning to “exercise extreme caution” when flying over Venezuela due to increased military activity in the Caribbean has led to a scramble among foreign airlines, leaving the country virtually cut off from the world.
US President Donald Trump’s announcement that Venezuelan airspace should be considered “completely closed” has unleashed a crisis in air connectivity in the region and raised international concerns about security in the Caribbean.
Although Nicolas Maduro’s government insisted that its sovereignty and that the airspace was safe, Washington’s warning generated a chain of reactions, prompting several airlines to suspend operations to Caracas.
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Panamanian companies Copa Airlines and Wingo extended the suspension of flights to and from Venezuela until December 12, joining the temporary cancellation of ten other companies. The main risk cited by the US authorities, especially the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), which lies behind Trump’s dramatic statement, is related to “increased military activity.”
Risks. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has issued alerts for aircraft to “be vigilant” amid the continued presence of US fighter jets near the Venezuelan coast, amid escalating military tensions.
The risks include, in addition to potential accidents, the possibility of “interference with the navigation systems” of civil aircraft and the uncertainty resulting from operating in a region experiencing geopolitical and military crises.
Given this situation, the North American State Department maintains Level 4 (“Do Not Travel”) for Venezuela, citing risks of “kidnapping and violence” and lack of legal and consular safeguards for US citizens.
Among the main companies that have canceled or suspended operations are European Iberia, Air Europa, TAP Air Portugal (TAP), Plus Ultra, Latin America Avianca, LATAM Airlines and Gol Linhas Aerias. Copa Airlines, Wingo and Satena-
As a result of these comments, Nicolás Maduro’s government responded by revoking the flight privileges of some of these companies, amid a crossroads of accusations and a diplomatic crisis that now directly affects the country’s air connectivity.
Restricted space. Although there is no official ban other than Trump’s announcement on social networks, the airspace is “practically closed,” explains Oscar Palma, a security expert and professor at the Universidad del Rosario in Colombia.
He warns that “denying enemy airspace depends on the ability, availability and willingness to shoot down any aircraft that passes through it.” “Are you really willing to force these kinds of regulations? We have our doubts, but under the Trump administration you often don’t know,” he says.
This is not the first time airlines have exited. In 2013, as the severe economic crisis worsened, many operations were closed due to state debts that reached about $3.8 billion.
However, the dynamics at the domestic terminal in Maiquetía are normal, with hundreds of passengers and about 80 domestic flights to different parts of the country.
The closure Trump is talking about excludes flights with migrants deported to Venezuela on US planes. One arrived on Wednesday and the other on Friday. They were only temporarily suspended for a few days.
warning. A NOTAM, or Notice to Pilots, is a critical alert issued by aviation authorities in various countries to inform pilots and operators of potential risks. In a warning issued in the United States, aircraft in the area were urged to “exercise caution” due to “the deteriorating security situation and increased military activity in and around Venezuela.” He noted that they “could represent a potential danger.”
“It’s a matter of caution and responsibility,” Palma explains. “Because there is danger in the area, the airlines say: ‘It’s better not to get into trouble.’”
The Venezuelan expert explains that the reasons may vary, but in this case “there is talk of electromagnetic interference that makes the Global Positioning System (GPS) ineffective during flight, which is something that must be taken into account.”
In fact, Cuba and Wingo argued that there were “interruptions in one of the aircraft’s navigation signals.”
A new American attack on a drug boat
A new attack by the US military on a boat believed to be loaded with drugs in the eastern Pacific Ocean killed four people on Thursday, amid growing controversy over the Pentagon’s crackdown on drug cartels.
The statement indicated that the United States Southern Command reported that “four male narco-terrorists who were on board the ship were killed.”
The post included a video clip showing a multi-engine boat crossing the sea at high speed before it was exposed to an explosion that caused the boat to catch fire.
So far, the 20 attacks have killed at least 87 people, and US President Donald Trump has confirmed that the attack will move “very soon” to the ground, where they will attack specific targets.