The blockade affects two other planes, according to former Bolivian president Jorge Tuto Quiroga
A Panamanian Copa Airlines plane bound for Venezuela carrying several former Latin American presidents was unable to take off from Panama’s airport on Friday due to the “blockade of Venezuelan airspace.”
“A Copa plane carrying President Moscoso (Mireya) and other former presidents to Venezuela has not been allowed to take off from Tocumen while they remain on board due to the blockade of Venezuelan airspace,” Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino denounced on the social network X.
Former Mexican President Vicente Fox has accused Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro of committing “another of his misdeeds.” “And the people inside are roasting in the heat, but we hear the Venezuelan national anthem over and over again,” he said.
Also on board the plane were former Costa Rican President Miguel Ángel Rodríguez, former Bolivian President Jorge Tuto Quiroga and former Colombian Vice President Marta Lucía Ramírez. They were all travelling to Venezuela to observe the presidential elections taking place this Sunday in the country.
Former Panamanian President Mireya Moscoso has explained to passengers that the plane cannot depart until the former leaders get off. “We wanted to support them in everything, knowing that they would not even allow us to leave the airport,” she said.
In another video posted by Tuto Quiroga on Facebook, the former Bolivian president details that the situation affects two other planes. “Three planes, almost 450 people that Maduro’s tyranny is taking hostage to prevent international solidarity and support from reaching those who are fighting in Venezuela,” he says.
The official account of the campaign of opposition candidate María Corina Machado and candidate Edmundo González has echoed what happened: “Venezuelans who were on the same flight applaud and sing the anthem in support of world leaders,” it stated.