Two Panamanian carriers halt flights to Caracas for two days, citing navigation signal issues amid heightened US military activity in the region.
PANAMA CITY: Two Panamanian airlines have suspended flights to Venezuela for two days, citing safety concerns.
Copa Airlines and its low-cost subsidiary Wingo said they would halt flights to and from Caracas on Thursday and Friday.
The carriers described the move as a “precautionary decision” after their pilots reported intermittent interruptions in navigation signals.
They pledged to provide more information within 24 hours.
The suspensions follow a US Federal Aviation Administration advisory last week urging caution in Venezuelan airspace.
The warning cited a “worsening security situation and heightened military activity” around the country.
Several other international carriers have also suspended operations, including Iberia, Air Europa, TAP, Avianca, GOL, Latam and Turkish Airlines.
Venezuela has since revoked some of these airlines’ operating rights, accusing them of caving to US “state terrorism.”
The US has deployed warships near Venezuela since August, claiming it is combating drug trafficking.
President Donald Trump has accused his Venezuelan counterpart Nicolas Maduro of leading a drug cartel, a claim Caracas denies.
Venezuela counters that Washington’s real objective is to overthrow Maduro and seize control of the country’s oil.
Trump escalated his rhetoric on Saturday, warning that Venezuelan airspace should be considered “closed.”
