Venezuela closes airspace to Argentina over cargo plane seizure

By Sinan Dogan

Venezuela has closed its airspace to all flights originating from or bound for Argentina, in response to the 2022 seizure of a Venezuelan cargo plane.

“No aircraft, coming from or heading to Argentina, will be able to fly over our territory, until our company is duly compensated for the damages caused, after the illegal actions carried out, only in order to please its guardians in the north,” Venezuelan Foreign Minister Yvan Gil said on X.

Argentina, for its part, said it would initiate diplomatic action against Venezuela's decision.

Presidential spokesperson Manuel Adorni said at a news conference that they would take measures within the scope of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) over the “violation” of the International Civil Aviation Convention.

On Aug. 12, 2022, Argentina seized a Venezuelan cargo plane at the request of the US.

The US said that the Boeing 747-type cargo plane, purchased by a Venezuelan cargo company from Iran's Mahan Air, was seized as part of "export restrictions regarding Iran."

In 2019, the US Department of Treasury added the Iranian airline Mahan Air to its sanctions list for its alleged ties to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.