Washington– The Federal Aviation Administration on Friday warned all pilots to “exercise caution” when flying in the airspace over Venezuela “due to the deteriorating security situation and Intensification of military activity “All over the country.
The unspecified threats “could pose a potential danger to aircraft at all altitudes” as well as aircraft taking off and landing in the country and even aircraft on the ground, the letter said.
This warning comes at a time when the Trump administration has intensified pressure on Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. The US Army has Carried out bomber flights Up the coast of Venezuela, sometimes as part of a training exercise to simulate an attack, an aircraft carrier was sent USS Gerald R. Ford to the area.
The Ford aircraft carrier and several destroyers were just the latest addition to the larger U.S. Navy The force was assembled in the Caribbean Sea Close to Venezuela for generations. The Trump administration does not see the Maduro it is facing Drug-related terrorism charges in the United StatesAs the legitimate leader of the South American country.
The Trump administration has also carried out a series of attacks on small boats in the Caribbean Sea and eastern Pacific Ocean that it accuses of transporting drugs to the United States, killing more than 80 people in total since the campaign began in early September.
The FAA issues this type of notice anytime there is a military conflict, but she hopes pilots will pay attention, said Mary Schiavo, a former inspector general for the Department of Transportation.
“I wouldn’t necessarily consider it to be any type of attack imminent because I’ve seen these posts come out so many times before,” Schiavo said. “But as a pilot, I would definitely listen to them.”
Schiavo said the United States may be anticipating military action by Venezuela or may be planning additional measures against drug boats. She said it is difficult to read this notice and know what is behind it.
When asked about the new warning, the Pentagon directed questions to the FAA, which simply confirmed the warning had been issued and that it would last for 90 days.