The United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has issued a stark warning to major airlines about a potentially hazardous situation for aircraft flying over Venezuelan airspace. This alert, issued on Friday, comes amidst a significant US military build-up in the Caribbean region, including the deployment of the navy's largest aircraft carrier.
Escalating Tensions and Military Presence
The FAA's official notice cited the worsening security situation and heightened military activity in or around Venezuela. It explicitly stated that threats could pose risks to civil aircraft at all altitudes. This warning coincides with the arrival of the USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier strike group in the Caribbean Sea, a move widely interpreted as a show of force directed at the regime of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.
The Trump administration does not recognise Mr Maduro, who faces narcoterrorism charges in the US, as Venezuela's legitimate leader. Since early September, the US has conducted a campaign of strikes on small boats it accuses of drug trafficking in the Caribbean Sea and eastern Pacific Ocean, resulting in over 80 fatalities. President Trump has indicated a potential expansion of these efforts, stating the US would stop the drugs coming in by land.
Specific Risks to Civil Aviation
While direct flights by US carriers to Venezuela have been suspended since 2019, many US airlines still overfly the nation for routes to other parts of South America. The new FAA order does not ban these overflights but mandates that airlines provide at least 72 hours advance notice of any planned journey through the airspace.
The agency highlighted several specific concerns for flight safety:
- An increase in Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) interference since September, which can cause lingering navigational issues.
- Activity associated with increasing Venezuelan military readiness, including multiple military exercises and the mass mobilisation of forces.
- The possession of advanced fighter aircraft and weapon systems by Venezuela capable of reaching civil aviation altitudes.
However, the FAA also noted that Venezuela has at no point expressed an intent to target civil aviation.
Uncertainty and Regional Implications
The warning has created uncertainty regarding the exact nature of the perceived threat. Aviation expert and former Department of Transportation inspector general, Mary Schiavo, suggested the US may be anticipating military action by Venezuela, or could be planning further action against alleged drug traffickers. She admitted it was difficult to read into this notice.
This development represents the culmination of a massive increase in US firepower in the region over recent months. The deployment of the USS Gerald R. Ford, along with its accompanying guided-missile destroyers and squadrons of fighter jets, rounds off the largest such build-up in generations. The carrier group was reported to have transited the Anegada Passage near the British Virgin Islands on Sunday morning. The FAA warning is set to remain in effect for 90 days.
