Venezuela accuses Uruguay of putting plane at risk by not allowing overflight and refueling

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – On June 16, the Venezuelan government issued a communiqué expressing its rejection of the «irresponsible handling» of the aeronautical authority of the Eastern Republic of Uruguay when it revoked the overflight permit of Emtrasur Cargo’s Boeing 747, involved in a controversy due to the ties of part of the crew with the Republic of Iran.

On Friday, June 10, the aircraft acquired by Conviasa’s cargo subsidiary left Ezeiza airport in Argentina, bound for Montevideo to complete refueling.

When the aircraft was over Uruguayan airspace, the aeronautical authority of that country revoked the overflight permit, forcing the plane to return to Buenos Aires, where it has remained since then and expects a resolution of its situation before the Argentine Government.

The statement of the Venezuelan authorities is transcribed below:

«The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela categorically rejects the irresponsible handling offered by the aeronautical authority of Uruguay by revoking the overflight permit granted to the Venezuelan company Emtrasur while the aircraft was in the air, fulfilling the itinerary between Ezeiza International Airport Argentina-Montevideo-Caracas, to make its technical supply stopover.

The crew of the aircraft was forced to return immediately to the Ezeiza airport in Argentina, not having the required fuel, putting the crew’s lives at serious risk.

The Government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela denounces before the international aeronautical community this regrettable action that could have caused a tragedy, human losses, and damages for both nations, in addition to flagrantly violating the freedoms of the air, as established in article 140 of the Organic Law of the Civil Aeronautical Authority.

Once they landed, it was found that the aircraft had only 17,000 liters of fuel, far below the recommended level of 20,000 liters as per EMTRASUR’s Standard Operating Procedure.

The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela considers this unacceptable and demands explanations from the authorities of the Uruguayan government regarding this terrible event.

At the same time, it urges to watch over the principles of security, fraternity, and brotherhood that have historically guided the relations between both nations».