Doral: The US has accused Venezuela of aggressive action as a Venezuelan fighter jet "aggressively shadowed" an American intelligence plane flying in international airspace over the Caribbean.
US authorities said on Sunday that their EP-3 plane was performing a multi-nationally approved mission on Friday and the Venezuelan SU-30 fighter jet closely trailed the plane, which the US says endangered its crew.
Venezuela's Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino Lopez said that the US plane entered Venezuelan airspace without prior notification, violating international rules. The flight also endangered commercial flights from Venezuela's main airport.
US authorities tweeted, "The response by the Venezuelan fighter jet undermines international rule of law & efforts to counter illicit trafficking."
Venezuelan authorities added that there have been 76 such incidents this year.
In a statement, Padrino Lopez said, "We will continually be alert to watching over the tranquility of the Venezuelan people."
