America's Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has issued a stark 60-day caution to US aircraft operators flying over the eastern Pacific Ocean, citing heightened military operations and potential satellite navigation disruptions.
Details of the Aviation Advisory
The regulator released a series of Notices to Airmen (NOTAMs) starting on Friday, 16 January 2026. These advisories warn that "potential risks exist for aircraft at all altitudes", including during overflight, arrival, and departure. The affected region encompasses airspace over Mexico, Central American nations, Ecuador, Colombia, and specific sectors of the eastern Pacific.
FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford confirmed this week that there had been "good coordination" between his agency and the US military prior to recent operations. However, the advisory underscores ongoing hazards for civilian aviation.
Background: Military Strikes and Rising Tensions
This warning follows nearly four months of US military action in the Caribbean Sea and eastern Pacific targeting vessels allegedly involved in drug trafficking. The Trump administration states that 35 known strikes resulted in at least 115 fatalities.
The campaign culminated in a large-scale operation against Venezuela, which led to the apprehension of President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores. They were transported to New York to face federal drug trafficking charges.
Tensions have escalated significantly since the US initiated a major military build-up in the southern Caribbean and executed the Venezuela operation. Former President Trump has hinted at further potential actions in the region, including against Colombia, and suggested US strikes could target cartel land bases in Mexico.
Incidents and Immediate Consequences
The risks highlighted by the FAA were demonstrated last month when a JetBlue passenger jet narrowly avoided a mid-air collision with a US Air Force tanker plane near Venezuela. JetBlue Flight 1112, an Airbus aircraft departing from Curacao and bound for New York, was forced to take evasive action roughly 40 miles off the Venezuelan coast after encountering the military jet, which did not have its transponder activated.
Following the Venezuela operation, the FAA previously imposed flight restrictions across the Caribbean, causing hundreds of commercial flights to be cancelled. The Mexican government has responded to the latest advisory, clarifying that it is a precaution for US operators and does not restrict Mexican airspace or affect its airlines' operations.
The 60-day FAA warning remains in effect, urging extreme caution for all US-controlled aircraft traversing a vast and strategically volatile region.
