The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has issued a series of aviation safety warnings advising airlines to exercise caution while operating over parts of Mexico, Central America and South America due to the risk of potential military activity and GPS signal interference.
In a statement on Friday, the agency said it had released multiple Notices to Airmen (NOTAMs) covering airspace over Mexico, several Central American countries, Ecuador, Colombia, and sections of the eastern Pacific Ocean. The advisories took effect immediately and will remain in place for 60 days.
The FAA warned of a “potentially hazardous situation” and urged operators to “exercise caution” in affected regions because of ongoing or possible military activity. An FAA spokesperson, quoted by AFP, said the notices apply to specific areas including Panama, Bogota, Guayaquil, the Mazatlan Oceanic Flight Region, and parts of the eastern Pacific.
The warnings come amid heightened geopolitical tensions and reports of increased US military activity in the southern Caribbean. The Trump administration has recently carried out military operations linked to Venezuela and has signalled that further action in the region remains under consideration, including potential involvement related to Colombia.
Last week, President Donald Trump claimed that drug cartels exert significant control in parts of Mexico and suggested the United States could consider strikes against organised crime groups. His remarks have added to concerns about possible escalation in the region.
Following recent operations linked to Venezuela, the FAA had temporarily restricted commercial flights across parts of the Caribbean, leading major airlines to cancel hundreds of services. FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford told Reuters earlier this week that the agency had closely coordinated with the US military ahead of those actions.
