The Federal Aviation Administration on Friday urged U.S. aircraft operators to “exercise caution” when flying over the eastern Pacific Ocean near Mexico, Central America and parts of South America, citing “military activities” and possible satellite navigation interference.
The agency’s warning was issued in a series of Notices to Airmen, or NOTAMs. The notices say, “Potential risks exist for aircraft at all altitudes, including during overflight and the arrival and departure phases of flight.”
The alerts are in effect for 60 days. The report said such notices are issued routinely in any region where there are hostilities nearby.
The FAA’s action comes as the U.S. continues a campaign of military strikes targeting boats in the Caribbean Sea and the eastern Pacific. The AP report said that campaign included 35 known strikes that killed at least 115 people, according to the Trump administration.
In November, the FAA warned all pilots to exercise caution when flying in the airspace over Venezuela. The AP report said that notice was issued “due to the worsening security situation and heightened military activity.”
More recently, the AP report described a Jan. 3 “large-scale strike” across Caracas. It said Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, were seized and transported to New York, where they face federal drug trafficking charges, the report said.
The AP report also referenced an incident in December involving commercial aviation safety in the region. It said a JetBlue flight from Curaçao halted its ascent to avoid colliding with a U.S. Air Force refueling tanker.