By RismadarVoice Reporters
January 4, 2026
The United States, late Saturday lifted airspace restrictions over the Caribbean after temporarily barring commercial flights during a US military operation that resulted in the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.
US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced on social media platform X that the restrictions expired at 12:00a.m. local time (0500 GMT), allowing commercial flights to resume.
“Airlines are informed, and will update their schedules quickly,” Duffy said.
The airspace closure was imposed earlier on Saturday as US forces carried out a pre-dawn operation, targeting sites in and around Caracas, Venezuela’s capital. The operation involved air strikes and the deployment of US special forces, who seized Maduro and his wife.
Both were flown by helicopter to New York City, where US authorities say they will face drug-trafficking and weapons-related charges.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) had issued a notice to commercial airlines advising them to avoid Caribbean airspace, citing a “potentially hazardous situation” linked to ongoing military activity.
According to the FAA, the temporary closure was necessary, due to “safety-of-flight risks associated with ongoing military activity.”
With the operation concluded and restrictions lifted, normal flight operations across the Caribbean region are expected to resume.
