US suspends flights to Venezuela

The US Department of Homeland Security has announced the “immediate suspension” of commercial passenger and cargo flights between the US and Venezuela. “Acting Secretary of Homeland Security Kevin K McAleenan determined that conditions in Venezuela threaten the safety and security of passengers, aircraft, and crew,” Efe news quoted the department as saying on Wednesday. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo assented to the suspension of flights based on McAleenan’s finding, while implementation of the measure is in the hands of the Department of Transportation. “This determination is based on the ongoing political instability and increased tensions in Venezuela and associated inadvertent risk to flight operations,” according to the statement from Homeland Security.