Newspaper: Venezuela prevents Argentine aircraft from flying over its territory

The Venezuelan authorities banned aircraft registered in Argentina from flying over its territory after confiscating a plane belonging to the Venezuelan company Emtrasur in Buenos Aires, Clarin newspaper reported.

The newspaper pointed out that the Venezuelan decision primarily affects Aerol Neas Argentina's planes, which usually fly to Mexico and the United States. In addition, the ban affected private aircraft registered in Argentina.

According to the newspaper, the Argentine Ministry of Foreign Affairs sent two memorandums to the Venezuelan side, and a few weeks ago it summoned the Venezuelan ambassador to Buenos Aires, Stella Lugo.

In June 2022, an Emtrasur plane was unable to take off from Buenos Aires when a local court prevented the flight crew, which included 5 Iranian nationals and 14 Venezuelan nationals, from leaving the country. The Argentine side justified this restrictive measure by the need to verify the links of those arrested with terrorists. Later, they were all released.

After the plane and its crew were detained, the US Department of Justice asked the Argentine authorities to seize the plane, claiming that it had previously been received from the Iranian company Mahan Air, which is subject to US sanctions.

In early January, an Argentine court approved the US side’s request to transfer the plane, and on February 12, it was handed over to the US state of Florida for later disposal.