Airlines suspend Caribbean flights after US strikes on Venezuela

By Diyar Guldogan

WASHINGTON (AA) - Dozens of flights to the Caribbean on Saturday were cancelled by major US airlines after the Trump administration launched what it called a “large scale” attack on Venezuela.

“American Airlines is aware of the FAA-mandated airspace closures in the Eastern Caribbean that were issued overnight and is closely monitoring the situation with the agency,” American Airlines said in a statement.

It came after the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) warned commercial airlines to steer clear of Caribbean airspace, citing a "potentially hazardous situation."

Delta Airlines said it began cancelling flights early Saturday morning in compliance with FAA airspace closures in the Caribbean.

"As cancellations are processed, customers will receive notifications via the Fly Delta app and contact information listed in their reservation," it said in a statement.

Separately, JetBlue said it cancelled about 215 flights “due to airspace closures across the Caribbean related to military activity.”

US President Donald Trump said early Saturday that Washington carried out a "large scale strike" against Venezuela, and that President Nicolas Maduro and his wife were "captured and flown out" of the country.

Trump said Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores were taken to a ship after their capture by US forces and were heading to New York.

US Attorney General Pam Bondi said Maduro and his wife have been indicted in the Southern District of New York on multiple criminal charges, including "narco-terrorism."