U.S. FAA Warns Airlines Over Military Activity Near Mexico

United States — The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has issued a safety alert to its civil operators regarding “military activities” and potential interference with navigation systems when flying over Mexico, Panama, Colombia, and Ecuador.

The technical notice, which will remain in effect until March 17, 2026, points to potential risks for aircraft in zones over the Pacific Ocean and the Gulf of California.

The alert is similar to one issued for Maiquetía Airport on November 21, 2025, which preceded the U.S. military intervention in Venezuela to capture Nicolás Maduro.

In response, Mexico’s Secretariat of Infrastructure, Communications, and Transportation (SICT) stated that the measure is exclusive to U.S. airlines and pilots, as the FAA only has jurisdiction over its own operators.

“THERE ARE NO OPERATIONAL IMPLICATIONS OR RESTRICTIONS FOR MEXICO, NOR FOR MEXICAN AIRLINES OR OPERATORS,” it clarified.

The SICT contextualized the alert by comparing it to others issued weeks earlier in the Caribbean. The measure, it indicated, aims to reinforce attention and care in aerial operations in zones of international influence.

However, the precedent of the “theater of war” in the Caribbean has raised alarms about the nature of the “military activities” referenced by the U.S. in this new region under watch.

U.S. Warns of Military Activity in Mexican Waters

With elements similar to those that initiated the “theater of war” the United States set up in the Caribbean to invade Venezuela—a flight alert for Maiquetía International Airport—yesterday the FAA warned to “exercise caution” when flying over Mexico and parts of Central and South America, citing “military activities” and possible interference with navigation systems in the region.

The FAA notice on its website states: “Safety: United States of America notice for possible hazardous situation in the overwater areas over the Pacific Ocean and the Gulf of California in the Mexico flight information region.”

The communication, directed at U.S. operators, meaning airlines, recommends “that they exercise caution when operating in the overwater areas of the Pacific Ocean and the Gulf of California in the Mexico flight information region.”

The FAA’s recommendation is made due to “military activities and interference” in communication and aerial navigation systems.

The FAA dispatch to airlines, as happened on November 21, 2025, when it alerted about the same over Venezuelan airspace and which triggered the invasion of Caracas, Venezuela to capture then-President Nicolás Maduro on January 3, 2026, warns:

“THERE ARE POTENTIAL RISKS FOR AIRCRAFT AT ALL ALTITUDES, INCLUDING DURING OVERFLIGHT AND THE ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE PHASES OF FLIGHT. THIS NOTICE APPLIES TO ALL U.S. AIR CARRIERS AND COMMERCIAL OPERATORS; ALL PERSONS EXERCISING THE PRIVILEGES OF AN FAA-ISSUED AIRMAN CERTIFICATE, EXCEPT PERSONS OPERATING U.S.-REGISTERED AIRCRAFT FOR A FOREIGN AIR CARRIER; AND OPERATORS OF CIVIL AIRCRAFT REGISTERED IN THE UNITED STATES, EXCEPT WHEN THE OPERATOR OF SUCH AIRCRAFT IS A FOREIGN AIR CARRIER.”

In other notes to airlines, the FAA also calls for caution when flying over some parts of Central America and the southern continent like Ecuador.

The warnings were issued in separate dispatches to U.S. aviators, published yesterday and will remain in effect until March 17. The areas referenced in the FAA dispatches include Mexico, Panama, Colombia, and Ecuador.

Civil Aviation Not Affected: SICT

The Secretariat of Infrastructure, Communications, and Transportation (SICT) reported on the issuance of a preventive Notice to Air Missions (NOTAM) by the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The Mexican agency emphasized that this precautionary measure does not imply any prohibition or restriction for aerial operations in Mexico.

According to the SICT statement, the NOTAM aims to reinforce attention and care in aerial operations within certain regions of airspace and was issued exclusively for U.S. civil operators, including their airlines and pilots. This is because the FAA only has jurisdiction to issue provisions applicable to operators from its own country.

The SICT was emphatic in stating that “there are no operational implications or restrictions for Mexico, nor for Mexican airlines or operators.” Furthermore, it reiterated that there is no impact whatsoever on civil aviation in the country, nor any changes in the operating conditions of national airspace.

In its statement, the SICT mentioned that this type of preventive communication is similar to other NOTAMs previously issued by the FAA, such as those registered weeks earlier in the Caribbean region and which now extend to the Pacific area.

The Secretariat concluded that it maintains permanent communication with international aeronautical authorities to monitor these notices, within the framework of cooperation and operational safety, and confirmed that this communication was consulted and validated with the FAA.