Thousands of travelers were stranded across the Caribbean after a U.S. military operation tied to the capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro prompted the Federal Aviation Administration to temporarily close regional airspace.
The shutdown triggered hundreds of flight cancellations from major hubs including Aruba and San Juan, Puerto Rico, during one of the busiest travel periods of the year.
Although the FAA later lifted restrictions, airlines scrambled to recover. Delta Air Lines said it added more than 2,600 seats through extra flights and urged travelers without confirmed tickets to stay away from crowded airports.
U.S. airlines are flying in and out of the Caribbean again Sunday after the surprise U.S. attack on Venezuela prompted the FAA to close the airspace over much of the Caribbean on Saturday. @krisvancleave reports on how many stranded Americans are still waiting for flights home. pic.twitter.com/YNVtci8BsL
— CBS Evening News (@CBSEveningNews) January 5, 2026
American Airlines added nearly 7,000 seats using larger aircraft, while United Airlines, JetBlue, and Southwest Airlines also expanded capacity.
Air travel began stabilizing by Sunday, but many vacationers remained delayed, highlighting how U.S. security actions abroad can ripple quickly into civilian travel disruptions at home.
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TIPP Staff
TIPP Staff
