Advertisement
US airlines warned of ‘potential risks’ when flying over Mexico, South America
The warnings come a month after a JetBlue passenger jet almost collided with a US Air Force tanker plane near Venezuela
Reading Time:2 minutes
Why you can trust SCMP
1
The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) warned airlines on Friday to exercise caution when flying over Mexico, Central America and parts of South America, citing the risks of potential military activities and GPS interference.
The FAA said it had issued “Notices to Airmen” covering Mexico and Central American countries, as well as Ecuador, Colombia and portions of airspace within the eastern Pacific Ocean.
They say: “Potential risks exist for aircraft at all altitudes, including during overflight and the arrival and departure phases of flight.” The alerts are in effect for 60 days.
Advertisement
Such notices are issued routinely in any region where there are hostilities nearby.
Tensions between the US and regional leaders have ramped up since President Donald Trump’s administration mounted a large-scale military build-up in the southern Caribbean, attacked Venezuela and seized the country’s president, Nicolas Maduro, in a military operation.
08:25
How Maduro’s abduction is set to change Latin America
How Maduro’s abduction is set to change Latin America
Trump has raised the possibility of other military actions in the area, including against Colombia.
Advertisement
Select Voice
Choose your listening speed
Get through articles 2x faster
1.25x
250 WPM
Slow
Average
Fast
1.25x