By Micah Jonah
January 17, 2026
The United States Federal Aviation Administration has warned airlines to exercise caution when flying over Mexico, Central America and parts of South America, citing risks linked to possible military actions and GPS interference in the region.
The FAA said it has issued safety notices covering Mexico, several Central American countries, as well as Ecuador, Colombia and parts of airspace over the eastern Pacific Ocean. The advisory, which took effect on Friday, is expected to remain in place for 60 days.
The warning comes amid rising tensions between the United States and some governments in the region following a major US military buildup in the southern Caribbean, recent operations in Venezuela and the reported seizure of President Nicolas Maduro during a military action.
President Donald Trump has also raised the possibility of further military operations, including against Colombia, has suggested that the United States could strike land targets in Mexico to combat drug cartels, which he said were effectively running parts of the country.
Mexican authorities responded to the FAA advisory by saying it is only a precautionary measure that does not restrict Mexican airspace or airline operations. The country’s transport ministry said the notice applies only to US operators and that flights within and to Mexico remain unaffected.
Following the recent military operation in Venezuela, the FAA had temporarily restricted flights across parts of the Caribbean, leading to hundreds of flight cancellations by major airlines.
FAA Administrator, Bryan Bedford said there had been coordination between the aviation authority and the US military before the Venezuela operation, adding that safety considerations were part of the planning process.
Last month, a JetBlue passenger aircraft flying from Curacao to New York reportedly took evasive action to avoid a mid air incident with a US Air Force tanker near Venezuelan airspace. The commercial aircraft was flying about 60 kilometres off the Venezuelan coast when it encountered the military jet, which was not transmitting its location signal at the time.
The FAA said it continues to monitor developments in the region and will update guidance to airlines if conditions change.
