Khaberni - Global star Leonardo DiCaprio missed attending the Palm Springs International Film Awards ceremony on Saturday, January 3 (January), due to air travel disruptions following the United States' announcement of the arrest of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. This led to many flights being cancelled and restrictions imposed on the airspace in the Caribbean and Southern California areas.
DiCaprio was scheduled to receive the Desert Palm Achievement Award for his role in his latest movie One Battle After Another, but he was stuck in Saint Barth during his vacation due to the imposed air restrictions and flight cancellations after the escalation of the crisis in Venezuela.
A spokesperson for the Palm Springs International Festival said, "DiCaprio was unable to join us in person due to unexpected travel disruptions and air space restrictions."
He added that the festival proceeded with the ceremony and Leonardo DiCaprio was honored despite his absence. The artist shared a video message expressing his gratitude for the award, affirming that the true experience of watching movies isn't just about seeing them on small screens or through devices, but sharing them together in a cinema hall, and the collective interaction with the events of the film.
He mentioned that this type of experience has become more significant at the current time, under conditions that limit the possibility of gathering, such as air restrictions, political crises, or any events that prevent people from attending the cinema.
DiCaprio's absence came hours after US President Donald Trump confirmed launching widespread strikes on several targets in Venezuela, including the capital Caracas and key military sites, in a move aimed at weakening the government of President Nicolas Maduro, whom Trump accused of drug trafficking and spurring illegal immigration to the United States.
The American strikes resulted in the closure of Venezuelan airspace to commercial flights, canceling hundreds of flights or redirecting them, affecting travel services to and from areas like Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, and Europe.
Some airlines responded by waiving change fees for affected passengers.
At the same time, Southern California experienced flight delays due to an unrelated incident involving FAA air traffic control, which temporarily affected attendance at Palm Springs International Airport, and although ground stops were later lifted, delays continued at several airports in the area.
