Pentagon orders temporary flight ban in Caribbean zone

The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), acting under the direction of the Department of War, has issued a new Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) establishing temporary flight restrictions over an area off the southeast coast of Ceiba, Puerto Rico.

The order, identified as FDC 5/9106, takes effect on November 1, 2025, and will remain active through March 31, 2026.

According to the FAA, the restrictions are for “Special Security Reasons.” The affected area extends from approximately 18°11’07”N to 17°52’20”N latitude and 65°40’29”W to 65°36’02”W longitude, covering airspace from 2,500 feet up to 5,000 feet above mean sea level. The notice states that “no pilots may operate an aircraft in the areas covered by this NOTAM (except as described),” adding that “only DoD participating aircraft operations under the direction of DoD are authorized in the airspace.”

The FAA emphasized that all aircraft entering or exiting the temporary flight restriction (TFR) must be on an active IFR or VFR flight plan with a discrete transponder code and maintain two-way communication with air traffic control.

While the agency did not specify the nature of the “special security reasons,” the timing of the restriction coincides with heightened U.S. military activity across the Caribbean.

Internal U.S. government documents obtained by The Washington Post indicate that Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro recently sent letters to Moscow and Beijing requesting expanded military cooperation, including “missiles, radars, and upgraded aircraft,” as American naval and air forces increase their presence in the region.

According to the report, the Venezuelan government also approached Iran seeking assistance in strengthening its defensive capabilities. The Trump administration has identified multiple potential targets inside Venezuela, including airstrips, ports, and naval facilities allegedly tied to drug trafficking networks. The Wall Street Journal reported that U.S. officials are weighing limited military options to “degrade narcotics infrastructure” linked to the Maduro government.

In recent days, U.S. military movements have intensified near Venezuela’s coast. Two B-1B Lancer bombers reportedly flew within 50 kilometers of Caracas, marking one of the closest fly-bys since tensions escalated earlier this year. The guided-missile destroyer USS Gravely also arrived in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, as the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford maneuvers closer to Venezuelan waters. Maduro condemned the deployments, describing them as an attempt to fabricate “a new eternal war” against his country.

U.S. defense planners have not confirmed any pending operations, but officials said contingency plans remain under review. The FAA’s five-month restriction near Puerto Rico—an area known for U.S. naval and intelligence operations—suggests ongoing coordination between civilian aviation authorities and defense agencies as Washington expands its posture in the Caribbean theater.

The new flight restriction near Puerto Rico underscores growing security concerns in the Caribbean as the U.S. military increases surveillance and readiness amid deteriorating relations with Venezuela.

CORRECTION: Story corrected to note that NOTAM is an acronym for Notice to Airmen.