The FAA issued 60-day NOTAMs warning airlines to exercise caution when flying over parts of Central America, Mexico, Ecuador, Colombia and stretches of the eastern Pacific because of potential military activity and GPS interference. The advisories, effective Jan. 16, follow reports of increased military activity and heightened regional tensions. The FAA said the notices are intended to alert operators to elevated hazards and to encourage reviews of routing and safety procedures. A recent reported near-miss involving JetBlue Flight 1112 and an untransponded U.S. Air Force tanker highlights the operational risks cited by the agency.
FAA Issues 60-Day Airspace Advisories Over Central America And Parts Of South America Amid Military Activity, GPS Interference Concerns
A sign marks the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) Boston Air Route Traffic Control Center, where air traffic controllers continue to work during the U.S. government shutdown, in Nashua, New Hampshire, U.S., October 9, 2025. REUTERS/Brian Snyder
Jan 16 (Reuters) - The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration on Friday issued Notices to Airmen (NOTAMs) advising airlines to exercise heightened caution when operating over parts of Central America and sections of South America, citing risks from potential military activity and interference with GPS signals.
Scope Of The Advisories
The FAA said the NOTAMs cover Mexico and multiple Central American countries, as well as Ecuador, Colombia and stretches of airspace above the eastern Pacific Ocean. The advisories took effect on Jan. 16 and will remain in place for 60 days, the agency added.
Context And Regional Tensions
FAA officials linked the alerts to heightened regional tensions and reports of increased military activity, including a reported U.S. military buildup in the southern Caribbean. Some reports cited an operation near Venezuela; this article does not independently confirm claims that Venezuela's president was seized. The FAA's notices are intended to help operators manage the added risks while the situation evolves.
Recent Incidents And Coordination
Earlier this month the FAA imposed tighter restrictions on flights across the Caribbean, prompting cancellations by several carriers. FAA officials told Reuters there had been coordination between the agency and the U.S. military before the reported operation near Venezuela.
Last month, JetBlue Flight 1112 — en route to New York after departing Curaçao — reportedly took evasive action about 40 miles (64 km) off Venezuela's coast to avoid a U.S. Air Force tanker that did not have its transponder activated. The incident underlines the types of hazards the FAA seeks to highlight with the NOTAMs.
What Airlines And Passengers Should Know
The FAA's NOTAMs are advisory in nature: they alert operators to elevated hazards in affected airspace and urge airlines to review routing, communication and safety procedures. Airlines routinely adjust routes and notify passengers when advisories affect schedules, and travelers should check with carriers for the latest information.
Note: This report summarizes the FAA's advisories and referenced regional reports; some geopolitical claims in prior summaries are described as reported and have not been independently verified by this article.
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