Donald Trump has declared the airspace above and surrounding Venezuela is "closed in its entirety" amid growing tensions between the United States and South American country.
The US president issued the warning to "all airlines" on social media this morning.
He wrote: "To all airlines, pilots, drug dealers, and human traffickers, please consider THE AIRSPACE ABOVE AND SURROUNDING VENEZUELA TO BE CLOSED IN ITS ENTIRETY.
"Thank you for your attention to this matter!"
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Venezuela's communications ministry did not immediately reply to a request for comment on the post.
Since early September, the US has been bombing alleged drug boats originating in Venezuela and other Latin American nations.
Earlier this week, Mr Trump repeated threats to also begin bombing land-based targets.
Speaking to military service members, he said: "You probably noticed that people aren't wanting to be delivering by sea, and we'll be starting to stop them by land also.
Donald Trump declared the airspace above Venezuela 'closed in its entirety'
|REUTERS
"The land is easier, but that's going to start very soon.
"We warned them stop sending poison to our country," he added.
Last week, the US aviation regulator warned major airlines of a "potentially hazardous situation" when flying over Venezuela due to a "worsening security situation and heightened military activity in or around" the South American country.
Venezuela revoked operating rights for six major international airlines that had suspended flights to the country after the US Federal Aviation Administration warning.
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The US has accused Venezuela leader, President Nicolas Maduro, of involvement in drug trafficking which he denies
|REUTERS
Mr Trump's administration has accused Venezuela leader, Nicolas Maduro, of involvement in drug trafficking, a charge he has denied.
Mr Maduro, who has been in power since 2013, has said that Mr Trump is seeking to oust him and that Venezuelan citizens and the military will resist any such attempt.
US forces in the region have so far focused on counter-narcotics operations.
They have carried out at least 21 strikes on alleged drug boats in the Caribbean and Pacific since September, killing at least 83 people.
According to The New York Times, Mr Trump spoke with Mr Maduro last week and discussed a possible meeting in the US.
The newspaper reports there were no plans at the moment for such a meeting, which, if it occurred, would be the first ever encounter between the authoritarian Venezuelan leader and a US president.
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