The TAP flight that was supposed to take off at 10 am this Saturday, November 22nd from Humberto Delgado airport, in Lisbon, bound for Caracas, was canceled for security reasons. The airline confirmed that the decision was due to a warning issued by the United States aviation authorities, who consider Venezuela’s airspace unsafe. to Lusa this evening, TAP informed that the flight scheduled for next Tuesday (November 25) had also been cancelled.
“This decision follows information issued by the US aeronautical authorities, which indicates that safety conditions in Venezuelan airspace, particularly in the Maquetia flight information zone, are not guaranteed,” said an official source from the Portuguese carrier.
The North American warning was released on Friday by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), which classified the overflight of Venezuela as “potentially dangerous”, regardless of altitude. “Threats can pose a potential risk to aircraft at all altitudes, including during overflight, arrival and departure phases, and/or to airports and aircraft on the ground,” the FAA explained in a statement.
The suspension comes at a time of growing tension between Washington and Caracas. In recent weeks, the United States has reinforced its military presence in the Caribbean Sea, sending warships, F-35 fighters and the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford. The North American administration accuses Nicolás Maduro’s government of maintaining links to drug trafficking networks and organized criminal groups, worsening the climate of instability in the region.
There is still no indication of when TAP will be able to resume flights to the Venezuelan capital. The company advises affected passengers to contact its support services for rescheduling or refunds.