FAA Warns Pilots of Military Activity Over Eastern Pacific

The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has issued an urgent advisory for aircraft operators to "exercise caution" while flying over the eastern Pacific Ocean. The warning covers regions near Mexico, Central America, and parts of South America, citing ongoing military activities and potential interference with satellite navigation.

The FAA released these alerts through several Notices to Air Missions (NOTAMs), effective for 60 days. The agency warned that potential risks exist for aircraft at all altitudes, including during overflight, arrivals, and departures.

These notices follow a four-month U.S. military campaign against vessels in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific. The Trump administration reports that 35 strikes have been conducted against suspected drug trafficking operations, resulting in at least 115 deaths.

The regional security situation has intensified following significant military events in November, the FAA warned pilots to avoid Venezuelan airspace due to heightened military activity.

On January 3, U.S. forces conducted a large-scale operation in Caracas. Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, were detained and transported to New York to face federal charges.

In December, a JetBlue flight departing from Curaçao was forced to halt its ascent to avoid a mid-air collision with a U.S. Air Force refueling tanker.

The FAA routinely issues such warnings in regions where military hostilities or electronic interference may threaten civil aviation safety.