American Tourists Stranded in Caribbean After Airspace Closure Amid Maduro's Capture

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has reopened Eastern Caribbean airspace after the U.S. military's capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. Despite this, numerous American tourists remain stranded across the region.

Airlines are working to add flights and facilitate the return of travelers. However, individuals like Nydia Han, an anchor for ABC Philadelphia station WPVI, report ongoing difficulties. Han and her family, scheduled to fly from San Juan, Puerto Rico, to Philadelphia, have been informed that flights are unavailable until Friday. She expressed frustration over being "stuck here in Vieques" due to the situation.

The FAA had issued a notice to airmen (NOTAM) early Saturday, banning flights from entering Eastern Caribbean airspace citing safety risks associated with military activity. U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced that the ban would expire at midnight Eastern time on Sunday.

Major U.S. airlines, including Southwest, JetBlue, United, Delta, and American, canceled hundreds of flights during the airspace closure. Some are now adding additional flights to accommodate affected customers. For instance, American Airlines is deploying a Boeing 777-300, its largest aircraft, to assist passengers.

In Puerto Rico, approximately 29 flights at Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport were canceled on Sunday, a significant decrease from the 400 cancellations on Saturday. Other Caribbean destinations, such as Aruba, Bonaire, Curaçao, St. Martin, and St. Thomas, also experienced flight disruptions but are gradually returning to normal operations.

Travelers like Billy Gunther of Florida, who was on his honeymoon in Puerto Rico, face delays of up to three days before securing flights home. Gunther noted widespread anxiety among tourists uncertain about their return plans.