FAA Issues Flight Warnings Over Latin America Due to Military Risks

The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration issued warnings on Friday to airlines operating over Mexico, Central America, Ecuador, Colombia, and portions of the eastern Pacific Ocean, citing risks from military activities and potential GPS interference that could endanger flights at all altitudes.

The advisories, known as Notices to Airmen, took effect immediately and will remain in place for 60 days, covering areas including the Gulf of California, also called the Sea of Cortes. Officials described the situation as potentially hazardous during overflights, arrivals, and departures. The FAA emphasized that the notices apply primarily to U.S. operators, and they do not restrict airspace or operations in affected countries. Mexico's government confirmed that its aviation activities remain unaffected, calling the advisory a standard precaution.

These warnings follow a period of heightened U.S. military presence in the region, including a large-scale operation last month that targeted Venezuela. In that action, U.S. forces captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, transporting them to New York to face federal drug trafficking charges. The operation came...