The US Federal Aviation Administration issued a warning to major airlines on Friday, November 21, regarding a “potentially hazardous situation” when flying over Venezuela, urging them to exercise caution.
The aviation agency’s announcement cited a “deteriorating security situation and increased military activity in or around Venezuela” and said the threats could pose a risk to aircraft at all altitudes.
Recent months have seen a significant increase in the US military presence in the region, including the US Navy’s largest aircraft carrier, at least eight other warships and F-35 fighter jets.
The US government, led by President Donald Trump, bombed ships allegedly carrying drugs that sailed off the coast of Venezuela and other Latin American countries.
US passenger or cargo carriers do not operate direct flights to Venezuela as of 2019, although some US airlines fly over the country during flights to South America.
On Friday, American Airlines announced that it had stopped flying over Venezuela in October. Meanwhile, Delta Air Lines said it stopped flying over Venezuela “some time ago,” Reuters reported.
The FAA also mandates US airlines to give at least 72 hours notice of scheduled flights.
Safety concerns
The FAA also claimed that the Venezuelan military has advanced fighter jets and various weapon systems capable of reaching or exceeding the altitude of civilian aircraft. There is also a potential low-altitude threat from air defense systems and anti-aircraft artillery.
“Some civilian aircraft have recently reported GNSS jamming when passing through the SVZM FIR, in some cases causing persistent in-flight effects. GNSS jammers and spoofers can affect aircraft up to 250 nautical miles away and can affect a wide range of critical aircraft communications, navigation, surveillance and security equipment,” the announcement said.
According to the FAA, there has been an increase in Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) interference in Venezuela since September. In certain cases, it caused lingering effects during the flight as well as “activity associated with increasing Venezuela’s military readiness.”
“Venezuela has conducted several military exercises and directed the mass mobilization of thousands of military and reserve forces,” the FAA said, noting that at no time has Venezuela expressed an intention to target civilian aviation.
The agency said it will continue to monitor the risk environment for U.S. civil aviation in the region.
