Trump orders airlines to avoid Venezuelan airspace

ISLAMABAD: The United States President Donald Trump has told all American airlines and pilots to stay out of Venezuelan airspace.

He says this is to keep flights safe and avoid any unexpected dangers.

US aviation authorities have instructed airlines to treat Venezuelan airspace as closed and follow all safety guidelines before flying.

The move comes as Venezuela faces political and economic instability. The US government says protecting people and aircraft is its top priority.

Airlines and pilots have been advised to use alternative routes and take all necessary precautions to avoid risks.

Trump’s announcement may lead to changes in international flight schedules and routes. Aviation experts say the step is important for safety.

“To all airlines, pilots, drug dealers, and human traffickers, please consider THE AIRSPACE ABOVE AND SURROUNDING VENEZUELA TO BE CLOSED IN ITS ENTIRETY,” he wrote on his Truth Social platform.

Venezuela had no immediate response to Trump’s social media post.

It may be noted that last week the U.S. aviation regulator warned major airlines of a “potentially hazardous situation” when flying over Venezuela due to a “worsening security situation and heightened military activity in or around” the country.

Meanwhile, the move comes following weeks of rising tensions between Venezuela and the US, as Washington increased pressure on Nicolás Maduro’s government through sanctions and surveillance operations targeting regional drug cartels