FAA Issues 60-Day Alert on Military Activity Over Mexico, Central America and Eastern Pacific

Overview

• The FAA advised pilots to exercise caution for 60 days starting Jan. 16 in designated areas covering Mexico, Central America, Panama, Bogotá, Guayaquil, the Mazatlán oceanic regions and the eastern Pacific.
• The advisory cites potentially dangerous situations and warns of possible interference with satellite-based navigation for civil aviation.
• The alert follows intensified U.S. maritime enforcement, including a Jan. 15 seizure of a tanker linked to Venezuela that U.S. authorities confirmed as the sixth such interception reported.
• President Trump has signaled further escalation against drug cartels, stating on Jan. 8 that ground attacks would begin after roughly 30 maritime strikes since Sept. 2 that reports say left at least 107 dead.
• Mexico has reiterated security cooperation while emphasizing territorial sovereignty ahead of a Jan. 23 U.S.–Mexico security meeting, and the administration informed Congress it considers an armed conflict with narcotraffickers, drawing criticism.