Immediate chaos erupted across the Caribbean travel circuit this week after President Trump’s administration launched military action in Venezuela. This left A-list celebrities like Natalie Portman and Mike Tyson completely stranded. This isn’t just about delayed flights; this is a serious international disruption that has grounded thousands of travelers.
The immediate cause of the travel nightmare was the US military action. US forces initiated airstrikes against the capital city of Caracas, resulting in the detention of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. He is now reportedly facing criminal charges in New York, which is a massive development that has clearly triggered widespread security concerns in the region.
Because of this high-stakes situation, the entire airspace over the Caribbean had to be locked down immediately. The U.S. Secretary of Transportation, Sean Duffy, officially announced that airspace over several nations was closed starting Saturday night. The affected areas included Haiti, Cuba, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, and the Dominican Republic. According to Unilad, both commercial and private jets were grounded.
Trump hurt everyone with his actions, and now there’s no clear escape
You’ve got some seriously famous people caught up in the mess. Natalie Portman is reportedly among the high-profile vacationers stuck in the region, unable to make it to a movie set because of the ban. It’s a bizarre situation when you consider the other people trapped alongside her. Heavyweight legend Mike Tyson, rapper and songwriter Queen Latifah, and model Ming Lee Simmons are all reportedly stuck waiting for the airspace to reopen.
Can you imagine running into that group at a quiet resort while you’re both waiting for news? Not everyone was trapped, though. Leonardo DiCaprio managed to execute a seriously impressive escape plan. He jetted out of St Barts just in time to show up at the Critics Choice Awards Sunday night. He was even roasted by comedian Chelsea Handler during the event.
— WIC News (@WIC_News) January 4, 2026
CARIBBEAN AIRSPACE SHUTDOWN
U.S. airlines have grounded flights across St. Kitts and Nevis and the wider Caribbean following military action in Venezuela.
Flights to Trinidad are now being turned back mid-air, and planes already airborne are being denied entry.
This is no… pic.twitter.com/ELSxRp1WLm
She quipped that the situation was “just like the Titanic, but worse … because Jeff Bezos was there.” That’s a top-tier joke, but it’s probably not funny to the thousands of people who couldn’t make their flights out.
It’s easy to focus on the Hollywood stars, but regular tourists are dealing with major headaches too. Take Billy Gunther and his wife, a pair of newlyweds from Florida. They were enjoying their trip in Puerto Rico when their flight home was abruptly canceled.
Gunther spoke about the widespread anxiety this caused for vacationers and tourists alike. He said, “So, you have a lot of people who are anxious, that they don’t know when they’re going to come home.” That’s awful for people who just want to get back to their lives.
The scale of the flight cancellations was huge, especially right after the initial military action. Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport in Puerto Rico saw around 400 flights canceled on Saturday alone. Sunday was significantly better, with only 29 flights canceled.
Fortunately, relief is in sight. Secretary Duffy posted on social media that the airspace ban across the Caribbean was scheduled to lift late Sunday night at midnight Eastern time. This means the stranded travelers, including the high-profile celebrities, should finally be able to book those flights home.
