The Federal Aviation Administration ordered an immediate halt to U.S. commercial flights operating over Venezuelan airspace overnight amid reports of active military operations, explosions in Caracas, and extraordinary claims from the White House that Venezuelan strongman Nicolas Maduro has been removed from power and is in U.S. custody.
FAA Orders Halt On U.S. Air Traffic Over Venezuela After Overnight Military Escalation
Earlier this morning, the FAA issued a notice prohibiting U.S. airlines from flying at any altitude over Venezuela, citing ongoing military activity that poses a direct risk to civilian aviation. The order followed reports of explosions in and around Caracas and other strategic locations, as well as conflicting accounts from U.S. and Venezuelan officials about what exactly transpired overnight. According to the FAA, the evolving situation created an unsafe environment for civil aircraft, prompting the agency to act swiftly to remove U.S. carriers from Venezuelan airspace entirely.
Shortly after reports of the explosions began circulating, President Donald Trump confirmed in a phone call to the New York Times and public statements that U.S. forces had carried out military operations in Venezuela. Trump claimed the operation included strikes on key targets in Caracas and resulted in the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife. The president described the action as decisive and long overdue, framing it as part of a broader effort to hold Maduro accountable for criminal activity tied to drug trafficking and corruption.
“The United States of America has successfully carried out a large scale strike against Venezuela and its leader, President Nicolas Maduro, who has been, along with his wife, captured and flown out of the country. This operation was done in conjuction with U.S. Law Enforcement.”
Venezuelan officials immediately pushed back, demanding proof of life and condemning the U.S. action as an unlawful attack on Venezuelan sovereignty. Vice President Delcy Rodríguez, speaking on state television, said the government did not know the whereabouts of Maduro or the first lady and called for clarification.
Meanwhile, U.S. Senator Mike Lee, a Utah Republican, offered more insight on U.S. intentions with Maduro. Lee posted on social media that he had spoken with Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who purportedly briefed him that Maduro had been detained by U.S. personnel “to stand trial for criminal charges in the United States.” The charges in question stem from a long-standing indictment in the Southern District of New York accusing Maduro of narco-terrorism and related offenses. American officials have repeatedly accused his regime of using state institutions to facilitate international drug trafficking.
Rubio himself later clarified that the U.S. does not view Maduro as the legitimate leader of Venezuela, reposting a tweet from July 2025:
The FAA ban on overflights comes on the heels of earlier advisories cautioning airlines about heightened military activity in and around Venezuelan airspace. In recent months, the FAA had repeatedly urged caution as tensions escalated and military build-ups in the region increased, but until now, formal prohibitions on flight operations had not been imposed.
CONCLUSION
The FAA’s decision to halt U.S. air traffic over Venezuela reflects the gravity of what unfolded overnight. With military action confirmed by the White House, competing claims about the fate of Nicolás Maduro, and the prospect of a U.S. trial looming, this is a rapidly developing situation with consequences far beyond aviation. Trump will address the nation at 11:00 am ET.
Oh no… this is ruining my ‘vacation’ to see Angel Falls…
In all seriousness, yikes. At least this doesn’t appear to be a three-day ‘special military operation’ that turns into a million casualties over three plus years, but we’ll see. They do have oil. And we have a mad man.
Doesn’t bode well for Taiwan, or the rules-based order we set up 80ish years ago. Back to might-makes-right and spheres of influence.
Besides, why are they having conventions in Geneva anyway? Orlando has better hotels.
I don’t support deposing dictators (see e.g., Saddam Hussein and Muammar Gaddafi), but I actually think this will make it far more likely for U.S. citizens to visit Venezuela once a U.S.-friendly regime takes power…
Woohoo! Angel Falls is back on the menu, boys!
(Uh oh, Russia condemned the attack… *facepalm*)
Now maybe we should help Ukraine do the same to Putin…
100%. All of the sudden, I’m a hyper-nationalist, jingoistic war-hawk… LET’S. FREAKING. GO.
wow….2026 might turn into a very different year than it began. Iran and Cuba on the ropes and pro-democracy people in Venezuela salivating.
and Ukraine saying they are 90% of the way to an agreement on ending the Russia war.
A whole lot of airspace and new routes for western airlines might be in the works.
Would be swell to see more ‘wins’ for free peoples and free markets… easier said than done.
Ignore the commiecrats who are defending a drug trafficker
And send Zelensky a final warning. Knock off the corruption and the theft of US tax payer money or he is the next one to be arrested
Oof. Read the room.
Putin is the war-monger, not Zelensky.
Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan are our allies, not Russia, Iran, or PROC.
1970 called and would like you to return
We have NOTHING in common with the criminal thief in Kyiv
Oh, 2024 we soundly rejected endless aid to the so-called Ukraine. MAGA runs the government now
@Derek: You remember my trip report to Kyiv, right? These people are not Russians and did not deserve to be attacked…
@Matthew
The people of Kyiv sure did not deserve to be attacked
The Zelensky regime is another matter. Zelensky should very much be arrested for funneling our tax payer dollars intended for military support for his and his friends’ personal wealth
Derek, you’ve said on here and elsewhere that you’re a Canadian… what are you really? Russian?
Wrong Derek
I am very much American
Ukraine is not the ally of the United States or shouldn’t be. The U.S. should and is helping Ukraine but there is a limit. Ukraine said “No” to joining NATO in the 1990’s. They should live and die by their decision. Ukraine should not be defended on the same level as NATO.
Taiwan should be top priority of the U.S. If Taiwan is invaded, the U.S. should defend Taiwan as if the U.S. were, itself, invaded.
Israel should be next because of the Jewish lobby, lots of Jews in the U.S. and also Christians, who mistakenly think the Israelites and the citizens of the State of Israel are the same. They are not. Israel is currently in no danger of being overrun. All its neighbors and Iran are too weak.
Ukraine should be at the bottom of the 3 countries. Help, yes. All out defense and unlimited aid, no. At some point, if Russia is strong enough, the U.S. should give up and let nature take its course. (However, Russia is not strong enough).
Ahh, is this the Canadian ‘derek’?
Well, you’re each seemingly pro-Putin, which blows.
Trump literally pardoned a Latin American drug trafficker from Honduras a few weeks ago, but congratulations on falling for the propaganda I guess.
The hypocrisy there is WILD. Lol.
Former citizens of Venezuela are celebrating in the streets of Miami.
They see this as a good thing,
Maduro is gone, that is objectively a good thing. Everything else about this is bad.
Fellas, Maduro’s in NYC; he’s due downtown federal courthouse this Monday for his arraignment. Wild.