Particle.news
Download on the App Store

Airlines Reroute as FAA and EASA Warn Off Venezuelan Airspace After U.S. Says It Captured Maduro

Safety notices citing high risk from potential air defenses prompt widespread Caribbean cancellations.

Overview

  • U.S. officials say a pre-dawn operation captured Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, and the FAA cited ongoing military activity in new flight restrictions.
  • EASA advised airlines to avoid Venezuelan airspace through Jan. 9 due to a high risk of misidentification from potential air-defense activation.
  • Flight disruptions spread across the region: JetBlue canceled 209 flights and delayed 263, American halted all Caribbean services Saturday, Delta listed 13 affected airports, and United and Cape Air issued flexible rebooking policies.
  • Puerto Rico reported cancellations at seven airports, and the FAA closed commercial airspace over San Juan’s Luis Muñoz Marín Airport until 1 a.m. Sunday local time.
  • Aerolíneas Argentinas canceled its sold-out Buenos AiresAruba inaugural, flight trackers showed little to no traffic over Venezuela, and Colombia and Brazil reported normal border activity as Guyana activated a security plan.