As federal agencies continue to restrict airspace following U.S. military action in Venezuela, Congresswoman Stacey E. Plaskett and VITEMA Director Daryl Jaschen said Saturday that they are closely monitoring impacts to the U.S. Virgin Islands, which for now appear to be concentrated on air travel and related logistics.
Plaskett confirmed that the Federal Aviation Administration issued a security order closing airspace at all altitudes in the flight region affected by military activity in Venezuela. The order has disrupted flight routes across parts of the Caribbean, prompting cancellations and delays for travel to and from Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
“I was informed that the FAA issued a security order closing airspace at all altitudes in the flight region of military action in Venezuela,” Plaskett said in a statement, urging Virgin Islanders and travelers to contact their airlines directly for the latest information on schedules and travel arrangements.
Plaskett emphasized that the territory’s geographic proximity to Venezuela places it within the broader regional aviation and security picture, even though no direct threat to the U.S. Virgin Islands has been identified.
“The safety and security of Virgin Islanders and all Americans remains my top priority,” she said. As a member of the House Intelligence Committee, Plaskett said she is awaiting briefings from the administration and will share information publicly as it becomes available.
In addition to flight disruptions, Plaskett said her office spoke with a regional representative of the U.S. Postal Service, who confirmed that all Priority and Priority Express mail—both inbound and outbound—will not arrive or be delivered Saturday due to the airspace restriction. USPS officials told her office they will work to restore service as soon as the airspace reopens.
VITEMA Director Daryl Jaschen told the Source that his agency has been coordinating closely with the U.S. Department of Defense since October as part of ongoing preparedness efforts, but has not been asked to activate or respond directly to the current situation as U.S. President Donald Trump’s Saturday press conference fanned speculation that Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro was aboard a U.S. Navy ship docked on St. Croix, which has not yet been confirmed.
“At this point, the direct impact is airline-related,” Jaschen said. He added that VITEMA remains on standby to support federal partners if conditions change.
Jaschen said VITEMA met Saturday morning with the Virgin Islands Port Authority, the Department of Tourism, and the U.S. Virgin Islands Hotel and Tourism Association to assess potential impacts and ensure consistent communication with travelers, hotels, and the broader tourism sector.
The FAA restrictions follow U.S. military strikes carried out overnight in Venezuela, during which the U.S. government announced the capture of Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores. U.S. authorities have said the two are expected to face drug trafficking and related charges in the United States. Maduro has been under U.S. indictment for several years, accused by federal prosecutors of leading a transnational narcotics trafficking network.
Earlier Saturday, the Virgin Islands Port Authority reported that while Cyril E. King Airport on St. Thomas and Henry E. Rohlsen Airport on St. Croix remain open, some flights have been canceled or delayed due to regional airspace restrictions. All seaports across the territory remain open.
Officials said the situation remains fluid as federal agencies continue to assess aviation safety and regional security conditions.
