The government of Venezuela has suddenly stopped six major international airlines from flying into the country. The airlines affected are Iberia, TAP Portugal, Gol, Latam, Avianca, and Turkish Airlines. They can no longer use the main international airport near the capital city, Caracas.
Venezuela says these airlines are taking part in "state terrorism" organized by the United States. This decision came after the airlines stopped their flights. They did this because the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) warned that the security situation in Venezuela was getting worse. The Venezuelan government gave the airlines 48 hours to start flying again, and when they did not, it banned them.
This problem is connected to a large US military force that has arrived in the region. This force includes an aircraft carrier and 15,000 soldiers. The US says it is there to stop drug trafficking, but some experts think the goal is bigger because the operation is so large.
Other countries have criticized Venezuela's decision. For example, Portugal's government called the ban "totally disproportionate." The airlines say they want to restart flights when it is safe. An international airline group tried to help find a solution, but it did not work.
The US and many other countries do not accept Venezuela's president, Nicolás Maduro, as the legitimate leader. The situation is very tense. US President Donald Trump has said he might talk to Maduro, but he has also threatened him. Maduro has posted videos online to show that Caracas is calm and safe.
People can still travel to Venezuela on a few other airlines. However, using flight permissions as a weapon is a serious step in this conflict. It has left many passengers stuck, and no one knows if things will get worse or if a peaceful solution can be found.