Brazilian Air Force shoots down drug trafficking plane near Venezuelan border

The Brazilian Air Force (FAB) intercepted and shot down a drug trafficking aircraft that illegally entered Brazilian airspace from Venezuela.  

The operation took place on February 11, 2025, as part of a coordinated effort between the Brazilian Aerospace Operations Command (COMAE) and the Federal Police and was conducted under Operation Ostium. 

The military reported that upon detecting the unidentified aircraft entering Brazilian airspace, it followed all standard procedures to force the plane to land without resorting to lethal force. 

The FAB established initial contact with the unidentified aircraft, which was intercepted by an Embraer A-29 Super Tucano. The pilots of the intruding aircraft were instructed to divert to a designated airfield. However, when the aircraft did not respond to these directives, it was classified as a “hostile” aircraft under Brazilian law. 

As a result of the intercepted aircraft’s failure to comply, the FAB implemented coercive measures, including firing warning shots with tracer ammunition, to compel the aircraft to follow the transmitted orders. 

“Since it did not comply with the coercive procedures described in Decree No. 5,144, the aircraft was classified as hostile and, therefore, subjected to the Detention Shot, which consists of firing shots with the purpose of preventing the continuation of the flight,” the FAB told local outlet g1. “This measure is used as a last resort, after the intercepted aircraft fails to comply with all established procedures and forces the continuation of the illicit flight.” 

#BREAKING A FAB abateu hoje uma aeronave vinda da Venezuela, sendo que um A-29 realizou tiro de detenção contra o avião, que veio a colidir contra o soloUm Black Hawk foi acionado para o local e foram identificados dois traficantes mortos dentro do avião, além de drogas pic.twitter.com/VR6oEPSWmX— AEROIN (@aero_in) February 12, 2025

The FAB reported that the aircraft crashed in a densely forested area near Manaus, in the Amazon region. Authorities dispatched a Black Hawk helicopter and discovered the bodies of the two pilots at the crash site. In addition to recovering the wreckage, officials also retrieved the drug shipment that the plane was transporting. 

Authorities continue to investigate the identities of the deceased pilots and the origin of the illicit cargo. 

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Since 2017, Operation Ostium has reinforced airspace surveillance over Brazil’s border regions and is permanently carried out by the Brazilian Air Force. Its objective is to prevent irregular flights that may be linked to crimes such as drug trafficking. The operation is supported by Embraer R-99 radar aircraft, F-5M supersonic fighters, A-29 turboprop combat aircraft, and H-60 Black Hawk helicopters. The post Brazilian Air Force shoots down drug trafficking plane near Venezuelan border appeared first on AeroTime.

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