A family of seven from Boston, Massachusetts, have been left stranded in Puerto Rico, unable to return home after the United States' military action in Venezuela led to the sudden closure of Caribbean airspace.
Holiday Plans Shattered by Geopolitical Action
Dinan Messiqua, a mother-of-three, travelled to the US territory with her children, her parents, and her sister's family for the week between Christmas and the new school term. They arrived last Sunday and planned to fly back to Boston on Saturday with JetBlue.
Just hours before their scheduled departure, however, the family received a message that their flight was canceled. "Because of what happened with Venezuela, and they closed down the airport," Messiqua explained to the Daily Mail. After a three-hour wait on the phone, JetBlue rebooked them for the following Saturday—a full week later.
Scrambling for Solutions Amid Wider Chaos
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced the restriction of travel in Caribbean airspace on Saturday, as the Trump administration confirmed it had taken Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife into custody. The restrictions expired at midnight on Sunday, but the disruption was severe.
The Messiqua family is one of hundreds caught in the travel turmoil. Major airlines like JetBlue, United, Delta, and American are working to add extra flights, but seats are scarce. Messiqua reported that as of Sunday, there were no direct options to Boston from Monday through Wednesday.
The practical consequences are mounting. "I work in schools in Boston, I train teachers, so I can't be there to work with my teachers," Messiqua said. "We have kids with us who are going to be missing a week of school. We have other people who need to be at work."
Making the Best of an Uncertain Situation
Facing an extended stay, the family managed to secure their hotel room for two more nights. "There was a moment of panic," Messiqua admitted, "and then you're like 'We got to make the best of this situation.'"
She acknowledged the silver linings: "We're in a beautiful place. It could be way worse. So we're in a hotel, we're not sleeping at the airport." Yet, the uncertainty is taxing. "The hardest part is the uncertainty... You could never sort of anchor yourself. It's very disconcerting."
Meanwhile, others on social media have taken a more light-hearted view. Travel influencer Declan Chapin posted from Saint Barthelemy: "When you're not ready to leave the Caribbean and now Trump won't let you."
The raid on Maduro's compound was a major military operation. Supported by every branch of the US military and involving over 150 aircraft, it saw low-flying craft destroy air defence systems to allow helicopters to land. US forces took Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, into custody around 1:01 am EST on Saturday. They were later transported to New York to face charges including narco-terrorism conspiracy.
In Venezuela, the Supreme Court confirmed Vice President Rodriguez would take over, but the country's military has demanded Maduro's immediate release, condemning US "colonialist ambition."
For stranded travellers, the return to normality will be slow. Analyst Robert Mann noted airlines have "a day's worth of passengers" already stranded. By Sunday night, significant delays and cancellations were still affecting Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport in San Juan.
