Hundreds of flights were canceled across the Caribbean on Saturday, including more than 20 departing from or bound for Chicago, after the United States carried out large-scale strikes in Venezuela and captured President Nicolás Maduro.
Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy said in a post on X the Federal Aviation Administration restricted airspace in the Caribbean and Venezuela “to ensure the safety of the flying public.”
The restrictions will be lifted when appropriate, he said, however a timeline hasn’t been provided.
At O’Hare International Airport, the majority of flight cancellations were connected to Luis Munoz Marin International Airport in San Juan, Puerto Rico. As of 3 p.m., a total of 10 flights either heading to or from San Juan had been canceled.
Additional cancellations affecting O’Hare were also reported:
- Cyrl E. King Airport – St. Thomas – 4 flights
- Queen Beatrix International Airport – Aruba – 4 flights
- Princess Juliana International Airport – St. Marteen – 4 flights
- Curaçao International Airport – 2 flights
- Henry E. Rohlsen Airport – U.S. Virgin Islands – 2 flights
- Hewanorra International Airport – Saint Lucia – 2 flights
Midway, meanwhile, reported two flights to San Juan had been canceled.