US lifts Caribbean airspace restrictions after military operation capturing Maduro

The United States late on Saturday (January 3, 2026) lifted temporary airspace restrictions over parts of the Caribbean that had halted commercial flights during a U.S. military operation which resulted in the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, U.S. officials said.

According to U.S. authorities, Mr. Maduro and his wife were taken into custody by U.S. special forces during a pre-dawn operation in Venezuela and were later flown by helicopter to New York City, where they are expected to face drug-trafficking and weapons-related charges.

The operation reportedly involved air strikes on multiple sites in and around Caracas late on Saturday, prompting concerns over aviation safety in the region.

U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said in a post on social media platform X that the airspace restrictions expired at 12:00 a.m. (0500 GMT), allowing commercial flights to resume.

“Airlines are informed, and will update their schedules quickly,” Duffy said.

Earlier, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) had issued a notice directing commercial airlines to avoid Caribbean airspace due to a “potentially hazardous situation.” The FAA said the closure was imposed because of “safety-of-flight risks associated with ongoing military activity.”

Flights were permitted to resume once the restrictions lapsed, U.S. officials confirmed.