US officials said on Friday that they had initially refused Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro permission to fly over a segment of US airspace on his way to China because his government made the request on short notice.
But Venezuela complained that the United States had also put up logistical obstacles to complicate its delegation’s preparations for attending the UN General Assembly in New York later this month.
Washington issued its explanation on the overflight issue after Maduro and his foreign ministry complained vociferously Thursday evening.
Maduro announced via Twitter his departure for China late on Thursday, but didn’t say whether the commercial Cuban plane he was traveling in had altered its route.
The US Embassy in Caracas said in a Friday statement that Venezuela had requested diplomatic clearance to fly over Puerto Rico en route to China with one day’s notice. Such clearances usually require three days’ notice, it said.
There was also confusion because the aircraft did not actually require diplomatic clearance because it was a commercial Cubana de Aviacion jet on loan, said the embassy’s acting chief of mission, Gregory M. Adams.