U.S. Ends Caribbean Airspace Restrictions Following Venezuela Operation

Commercial flights over the Caribbean were temporarily halted late Saturday during a U.S. military operation that resulted in the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife.

The pair were taken by helicopter to New York City, where they are expected to face charges related to drug trafficking and weapons offenses. U.S. special forces detained them during a pre-dawn operation that included air strikes on locations in and around Caracas.

U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy later announced that the flight restrictions were lifted at midnight, allowing airlines to resume normal operations. Aviation authorities had earlier instructed commercial carriers to avoid the region due to safety risks linked to ongoing military activity, and airlines were advised to adjust their schedules accordingly once the restrictions expired.