WASHINGTON — The Federal Aviation Administration issued a 60-day FAA warning Friday urging U.S. pilots and airlines to use extra caution when flying over parts of the eastern Pacific near Mexico, Central America and sections of South America because of military activity and possible GPS interference. The agency said the risks could affect aircraft “at all altitudes,” including during arrival and departure, and that some military flights may occur with little to no notice in airspace commonly used by civil aircraft, Jan. 16, 2026.
What the FAA warning covers
In an FAA statement on new NOTAMs, the agency said the alert was issued through advisory Notices to Airmen, or NOTAMs, for U.S. civil aviation operations. The notices apply to specified overwater areas of multiple flight information regions that handle oceanic and coastal traffic, including airspace associated with Mexico, Central America, Panama, Colombia and Ecuador, plus portions of the eastern Pacific Ocean.
A one-page FAA background document accompanying the NOTAMs cites reports of intermittent Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) interference in the eastern Pacific. The FAA warning says aircraft often regain GNSS shortly after leaving the affected area, but “effects can linger for the duration of the flight and impact follow-on flights.”
Military activity: The FAA said military aircraft may fly at or below common cruising altitudes “with little to no notice” and may operate without transponders.
Navigation risks: GNSS interference can degrade navigation performance, affecting route tracking and other systems that rely on precise position and time.
What it means for airlines and travelers
The FAA warning is not a flight ban. Airlines can keep operating, but safety teams and dispatchers may respond by adjusting routes, adding fuel reserves or selecting different alternates for flights that spend long stretches over water.
Mexico’s transport ministry described the advisory as a precaution that applies only to U.S. operators and does not restrict Mexican airspace or airlines, according to Reuters. The Associated Press reported that the NOTAMs caution that “Potential risks exist for aircraft at all altitudes, including during overflight and the arrival and departure phases of flight.”
The FAA is also encouraging operators to report disruptions through the FAA GPS anomaly portal, which collects data on navigation outages and irregularities that can help regulators and airlines spot patterns and refine mitigation plans.
Earlier alerts provide context
The current FAA warning follows other recent advisories tied to security risks and satellite-navigation problems. In November 2025, the FAA issued a separate caution for flights over Venezuela, citing heightened military activity and reports of satellite-navigation interference, as detailed by The Washington Post.
Similar challenges have also pushed airports to strengthen backups. In 2024, Reuters reported that airports in Eastern Finland reintroduced radio-navigation equipment to provide alternative approaches during periods of suspected GPS interference.
For now, the FAA warning is scheduled to remain in effect for 60 days from its Jan. 16 start, and it could be updated or extended if conditions change. Travelers typically won’t see an alert at the gate, but they may notice longer routings or minor timing changes as airlines manage risk in the region.
