FAA warns airlines of potential military activity in Latin America

The FAA issued a series of NOTAMs on Friday advising flights to exercise caution when flying over Mexico, Central America, parts of South America and parts of the Pacific Ocean. The NOTAMS are currently scheduled to remain in place through March 17, according to Avweb. The administration cites potential military activities and global navigation satellite system (GNSS) interference as the reason. Risks may exist for aircraft at all altitudes, including during overflight and arrival and departure phases. The notices follow almost four months of U.S. military strikes against boats in the Caribbean Sea and the eastern Pacific. The U.S. government claimed the boats were trafficking drugs and the 35 known strikes have killed at least 115 people, according to ABC NEWS. On Dec. 12 2025, a JetBlue Airways Airbus A320 near Venezuelan airspace had a near-collision after an Air Force refueler tanker entered its flight path at the same altitude with no transponder on. In January, a major US military operation resulted in the seizure of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, who is accused of leading the Cartel of the Suns, a Venezuelan drug-trafficking organization comprised of high-ranking Venezuelan officials. All U.S.-registered aircraft that are not military are currently banned from using Venezuelan airspace RELATED STORIES: 'We almost had a midair collision:' JetBlue pilot describes close call with Air Force refueler Venezuelan airspace closed to U.S. civil flights due to increased military activity Aviation associations call for action against GPS jamming and spoofing The number of reported satellite interference or spoofing has increased in recent years, according to SimpleFlying.com. Aircraft flying in the mentioned areas can potentially experience a complete loss of the satellite signal or have false location data sent to its GPS systems.