Caribbean Skies Empty as US Strikes Venezuela

The Night the Planes Turned Back

Captain Miguel Álvarez was halfway across the Caribbean when the encrypted message blinked on his flight-deck screen: ‘US military action – Caracas FIR closed, divert immediately.’ Within minutes the American Airlines 737 banked hard toward Barbados, leaving 142 passengers staring at a black ocean where their connecting flights to Maracaibo, Bogotá and beyond would never land.

A Region Grounded Overnight

By dawn, more than 60 Caribbean-bound jets had performed similar U-turns. Airlines from JetBlue to Copa scrubbed every route that skirted Venezuelan airspace, stranding an estimated 18,000 travellers from Trinidad’s Piarco to Curaçao’s Hato. The cancellations—described by one regional aviation chief as “the single biggest shutdown since 9/11”—followed reports of overnight US strikes on radar stations along Venezuela’s northern coast.

We are treating this as an active conflict zone. No carrier will risk a civilian aircraft near contested airspace.— Regional director, Caribbean Air Traffic Control

‘Shelter in Place’ Echoes Through Caracas

Inside Venezuela, the US Embassy flashed an emergency alert at 03:14 local time: ‘US citizens: remain indoors, expect checkpoints, monitor media.’ Residents in the capital reported low-flying aircraft, sporadic power outages and military convoys racing toward the coast. State TV broadcast a defiant address from President Maduro, denouncing “imperial aggression,” while opposition lawmakers claimed at least three military installations had been hit.

Island Economies Brace for Shockwaves

Tourism officials fear a second punch: Caribbean islands that rely on Venezuelan fuel and connecting traffic now face empty hotels and grounded fleets. Trinidad’s energy minister warned of “imminent fuel rationing” if tankers remain blockaded, while the Eastern Caribbean dollar slid 1.3 % on regional forex desks.

What Happens Next?

• US Southern Command has not confirmed ground operations, but satellite imagery shows naval assets converging on the Dutch Caribbean island of Curaçao.
• Aviation regulators expect a second wave of cancellations through the weekend; passengers are urged to re-book via southern routes over Brazil.
• Caracas airport remains closed to commercial traffic; humanitarian and evacuation flights may begin Friday if a cease-fire is brokered by Caribbean Community heads.

For Captain Álvarez, now sipping coffee in a Barbados crew lounge, the surreal night is far from over. “I’ve flown hurricanes, volcanic ash, but never had to tell passengers we’re turning back because their country is under attack,” he said, eyes fixed on the departures board still flashing crimson cancellations. “The Caribbean feels smaller tonight—and a lot more dangerous.”