The United States air authority warns of “military activity” in the airspace of Mexico and Central America and tension returns to the region

The FAA reported having issued “Notices to Airmen” covering Mexico and other Central American countries, as well as Ecuador, Colombia and parts of the airspace of the eastern Pacific Ocean. In the note he talks about “potential risks to aircraft at all altitudes.” The warnings began this Friday and will last for 60 days, until mid-March.

These warnings come amid increased tensions between the United States and regional leaders, after the administration led by Donald Trump deployed a large military concentration in the southern Caribbean, attacked Venezuela and captured the country’s dictator, Nicolás Maduro, in a military operation. Trump has raised the possibility of other military actions in the area, including against Colombia, although the tension later decreased.

However, last week, Trump said the cartels were controlling Mexico and suggested the United States could attack ground targets to combat them, in one of a series of threats to deploy US military force against drug cartels.

Following the attack on Venezuela, the FAA restricted flights throughout the Caribbean, forcing the cancellation of hundreds of flights from major airlines.

FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford told Reuters earlier this week that there had been good coordination between the agency and the US military before the operation in Venezuela. Now it is an even greater notice, it includes several countries and the usual airline routes that connect the United States, Mexico and Canada with South America.

On Thursday of last week, five days after Maduro’s capture in Venezuelan territory, the Panamanian airline Copa Airlines announced the return of its international flights to Caracas.

“We inform that, after the improvement in operating conditions in the airspace of Maiquetía, in Venezuela, flights to and from the city of Caracas will restart starting Tuesday, January 13, 2026, with daily frequency,” reads the statement.

And he adds: “Additionally, starting on Friday, January 16, 2026, the second flight will restart, which will operate daily starting on February 20.” However, after this Friday’s statement, the airline made no official announcements.

In the same sense, American Airlines, one day after the dictator’s capture, also reestablished flights. “Now that Eastern Caribbean airspace has reopened, we have resumed scheduled service and have so far added nearly 5,000 additional seats (deploying the largest aircraft in our fleet) to and from the region to support customers affected by the restrictions imposed by the FAA,” he said.