U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy. File
| Photo Credit: AP
The United States lifted airspace restrictions over the Caribbean late on Saturday (January 3, 2026) after barring commercial flights during a U.S. military operation that led to the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.
Mr. Maduro and his wife were flown by helicopter to New York City, where they face drug-trafficking and weapons charges.
Venezuela-US conflict LIVE updates
They were seized by U.S. special forces during a pre-dawn attack in which air strikes pounded sites in and around the Venezuelan capital Caracas late on Saturday.
U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said in a post on social media platform X that the initial restrictions expired at 12:00 a.m. (0500 GMT), when flights could resume as scheduled.
“Airlines are informed, and will update their schedules quickly,” Mr. Duffy said.
The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration notified commercial airlines on Saturday (January 3, 2026) to avoid Caribbean airspace, citing a “potentially hazardous situation.”
The notice said the closure was issued due to “safety-of-flight risks associated with ongoing military activity.”
Published – January 04, 2026 11:34 am IST
