Several airlines canceled flights to and from Venezuela following a warning from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) over “deteriorating security conditions and increased military activity” in and around the south American country.
Airlines including Iberia, Avianca, TAP Air Portugal, Gol and Turkish Airlines canceled their scheduled flights to Caracas.
Meanwhile, Laser and Estelar said on social media that they continue to operate. According to VPItv, Avior and Wingo also continue their flights as normal.
The FAA did not ban flights but advised airlines to “exercise extreme caution.” If they decide to fly, carriers must notify the FAA 72 hours in advance before entering Venezuelan airspace and provide a detailed flight plan.
According to an official statement issued Friday by the FAA, since September there has been an increase in interference with satellite navigation systems (GNSS) and greater military activity by Venezuela’s armed forces.
Some civilian flights reported navigation failures while crossing Venezuelan airspace, with effects that persisted for the remainder of their routes.
The FAA warned that GNSS jammers and spoofers can affect aircraft more than 250 nautical miles away, disrupting communications, navigation, surveillance and critical safety systems.
The agency also said the Venezuelan government has conducted multiple military exercises and ordered the mobilization of thousands of troops and reservists since early September.
The FAA said it will continue to monitor air safety in the region and take necessary measures to protect U.S. civil aviation.
This article was originally published in Spanish by Telemundo 51. It was translated into English with the help of an AI tool. An NBC6 producer reviewed and edited the text.
