Navy jet may have crossed Venezuelan airspace

Navy jet may have crossed Venezuelan airspace
By Lolita C. Baldor - The Associated Press
Posted : Monday May 19, 2008 17:40:12 EDT

WASHINGTON — A Navy plane apparently accidentally crossed into Venezuela’s airspace Saturday night, triggering protests from that country, according to a U.S. defense official familiar with the report.

The S-3 Viking aircraft, based in Curacao, was on a training mission in international airspace near Los Roques Island, Venezuela, and experienced “intermittent navigational problems,” said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the issue.

The aircraft is used for counternarcotics missions. Navy crew on the S-3 reported they had a brief radio conversation with air traffic control personnel in Maiquetia and believed that they had mistakenly flown into Venezuelan airspace, the official said.

Navy officials are investigating the incident.

According to the defense official, the S-3 crew was under the air control of Curacao but was told to switch frequencies to Maiquetia. Based on the “agitated” tone of the conversation with traffic controllers in Maiquetia, the official said the crew realized the likely error.


Rest of article at: http://www.navytimes.com/news/2008/05/ap_navy_venezuelaflight_051908w/



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