The Strategic Operational Commander of the Bolivarian National Armed Force (Ceofanb), General Domingo Hernández Lárez, announced that the Venezuelan Armed Force had neutralized an unidentified aircraft in the southwest of Venezuela.
In a series of tweets, Hernández Lárez detailed that the targeted aircraft was neutralized via ‘immobilization’ at coordinates 06° 30′ 28.9″ N / 69° 24′ 03.90″ W in the Rómulo Gallegos municipality, Apure state.
He cited reasons such as the absence of a flight plan, lack of identification, a disconnected transponder, and unauthorized use by air traffic services as reasons for the action.
Along with video evidence, the commander argued that the action complies with the Law of Control for the Integral Defense of the Airspace.
He further suggested that the aircraft may have been used by violent groups in the border security zone of the state, potentially for cross-border crimes like drug trafficking and illicit transportation of individuals and weapons.
The neutralization of this particular aircraft brings the total number of aircraft taken down by the Bolivarian Military Aviation (AMB) to 33 in the year 2023 alone.
“Since 2012, we have decommissioned three hundred and thirty-six (336) aircraft and thirty-three (33) during 2023”, the Ceofanb commander stated, affirming the military’s ongoing efforts to secure the country’s airspace.
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