Saturday 17/January/2026 – 09:20 AM
The US Federal Aviation Administration has warned airlines of potential dangers flying over Mexico, Central America and parts of South America, due to the possibility of military activities and interference with global positioning systems (GPS).
Tensions in Latin America
The administration said, according to Reuters, that it had issued notices to air navigators, including Mexico and Central American countries, in addition to Ecuador, Colombia, and parts of the airspace in the eastern Pacific Ocean. She explained that these warnings took effect on Friday and will continue for 60 days.
This comes in light of the escalation of tensions between the United States and leaders in the region, since the administration of US President Donald Trump launched a large-scale military buildup in the southern Caribbean Sea, launched an attack on Venezuela and captured its president, Nicolas Maduro, in a military operation. Trump also hinted at the possibility of carrying out other military operations in the region, including against Colombia.
Trump said last week that drug cartels control Mexico, raising the possibility of launching strikes on ground targets to combat them, in one of a series of threats to deploy American military force against these cartels.
Mexico responded to the FAA’s warning by saying it was a precautionary measure only, and did not impose any restrictions on Mexican airspace or on the airlines operating in it.
The Mexican Ministry of Transport confirmed in a statement that the notification applies exclusively to US operators, and that flight operations in Mexico remain normal.
Following the attack on Venezuela, the Federal Aviation Administration restricted flights throughout the Caribbean, leading to the cancellation of hundreds of flights operated by major airlines.
Federal Aviation Administration Director Brian Bedford told Reuters this week that there was good coordination between the agency and the US military before the operation was carried out in Venezuela.
