A major US military operation in Venezuela has triggered widespread travel disruption across the Caribbean, leading to the cancellation of hundreds of flights and leaving numerous passengers stranded. The incident occurred after American forces launched a strike, reportedly capturing Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife.
Military Action Grounds Major Airlines
In the wake of the strike, major US carriers including Delta, United, JetBlue, Southwest, and American Airlines were forced to cancel services. The decision came as airspace across the Caribbean region was abruptly closed due to the unfolding military activity. According to reports from the Associated Press, JetBlue alone cancelled approximately 215 flights.
Professor Dr. Glen Duerr, an International Studies expert at Cedarville University, explained the rationale behind the mass cancellations. He stated that airlines were taking essential safety precautions. "The obvious one is the security situation with flying vessels going into the area; there's always the potential for miscommunication and for danger," Duerr said. He further highlighted the risk of unpredictable actions, such as a "rogue general... seeking to strike at a US vessel off its coast."
Passengers Stranded Amidst Chaos
The sudden grounding of flights created scenes of confusion and anxiety at airports. Fairborn resident Marta Malavich shared the ordeal of her daughter, Kelli Hall, who was stuck in Puerto Rico after her JetBlue flight home was cancelled on Friday without prior explanation.
"It was just mass chaos," Malavich recounted, describing how her daughter was informed. "(The) lady said, 'All flights are canceled.'... She came up, she said, 'No, ma'am, they have on Venezuela so there are no flights in or out.'" Despite the stressful situation, Malavich said her daughter managed to rebook a flight for Wednesday, albeit at a steep cost of $800 for a one-way ticket. "You're gonna pay it just to get out of there," she added, expressing her fear and wishing her daughter had not travelled.
Political Fallout and Conflicting Claims
The military action, which US President Donald Trump hailed as a "large-scale" success in a statement early Saturday morning, has led to a direct political confrontation. President Trump declared that the United States will now run Venezuela. However, this claim was swiftly denied by the country's Vice President, Delcy Rodríguez, setting the stage for further instability.
The immediate and most visible impact for global citizens, however, remains the severe disruption to air travel. The incident underscores how geopolitical conflicts can have instant and far-reaching consequences on international mobility and safety protocols, affecting thousands of travellers far from the epicentre of the action.
