Six airlines cancel flights in Venezuela after FAA warns of dangers

Six airlines canceled flights to Venezuela on Saturday, an industry group said, after the US aviation regulator warned of the dangers of an “escalation of military activity” amid a major build-up of US forces in the region.

The Spanish Iberia, the Portuguese TAP, the Chilean LATAM, the Colombian Avianca and the Brazilian GOL suspended their flights to the country, said Marisela de Loaiza, president of the Venezuelan Airlines Association (ALAV).

He did not specify how long the flight suspensions would last.

Copa Airlines from Panama, Air Europa and PlusUltra from Spain and LASER from Venezuela continue to operate flights for now. Turkish Airlines said on Sunday it would cancel flights from Nov. 24 to 28.

The US Federal Aviation Administration on Friday urged civil aircraft in Venezuelan airspace to “exercise caution” due to the “worsening security situation and increased military activity in or around Venezuela.”

“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,” he said.

America Airlines and United Airlines told News themezone that they have stopped flying over Venezuela.

Washington has sent a strike group of aircraft carriers, other Navy warships and stealth aircraft to the region; deployments that he says are aimed at curbing drug trafficking, but that have raised fears in Caracas that the goal is regime change.

A terrorism designation in the United States goes into effect Monday for a drug cartel allegedly led by leftists. Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro – a move that some believe could presage military action against his government.

Washington forces have carried out attacks against More than 20 alleged vessels dedicated to drug trafficking. in the Caribbean Sea and eastern Pacific Ocean since early September, killing more than 80 people.

But the United States still has to release concrete evidence that the vessels it targeted were being used to smuggle drugs or posed a threat to the country, and regional tensions have flared as a result of the campaign and the accompanying military buildup.

Meanwhile, Trump administration officials on Saturday discussed the possibility of dropping leaflets in Venezuela’s capital, Caracas, as a form of psychological warfare to pressure Maduro, several U.S. officials familiar with the talks told News themezone.

The Washington Post was the first to report on the proposed leaflet operation.

President Trump said last week that he would not rule out sending US troops to Venezuela.

“No, I don’t rule it out,” the president said. “I’m not ruling anything out. We just have to take care of Venezuela.”

For his part, Maduro on the same day saying would be open to “face-to-face” conversations with Trump.

Last month, Mr. Trump also confirmed that has authorized the CIA to enter Venezuela and carry out covert operations.

There are currently about 15,000 US troops in the region. A Navy official told News themezone last week that the United States had four military ships in the western Atlantic, including the USS Gerald R. Ford, the world’s most advanced aircraft carrier, and three guided missile destroyers. It had seven other military vessels in the Caribbean, the official said, including two guided missile destroyers, two guided missile cruisers, one amphibious assault ship and two amphibious transport port ships.

There are also several dozen American fighter jets. stationed in Puerto Rico.

Maduro, who has led Venezuela since 2013, faced an international outcry when he declared victory in Venezuela’s presidential election in July 2024. Although the results show had lost by a wide margin to the opposition candidate.

The United States is one of several nations that does not recognize him as president of Venezuela. The Trump administration accused him of operating a cartel that funnels drugs into the United States and offered a $50 million reward for information leading to his arrest.

TO new News themezone poll finds that most Americans would oppose US military action in Venezuela.