Estelar Latinoamerica (Caracas Simón Bolivar) had its Air Operators Certificate (AOC) suspended by the Venezuelan civil aviation authority (Instituto Nacional de Aeronáutica Civil - INAC) on Friday, November 7. INAC said in a statement that an audit of the carrier's operations had revealed grave oversights in its maintenance, finance and operations departments.

"Estelar Latinoamerica's Air Operator's Certificate is temporarily suspended until the airline, to the total satisfaction of INAC, fulfils all requirements as relates to aircraft maintenance as prescribed by Venezuelan law," the regulatory body said.

Prior to its grounding, the carrier had operated scheduled flights throughout Venezuela as well as charter flights to Colombia, Mexico, and the Caribbean.