Panamanian Ex-Presidents' Plane Grounded Amid Venezuela’s Airspace Blockade

Panamanian President Jose Raul Mulino announced that a plane carrying former presidents was not allowed to take off due to Venezuela's airspace blockade. This comes amid Venezuela's closure of its border movements to maintain security during the upcoming presidential election. Concerns about election fairness have already prompted international observers to withdraw.

Panamanian President Jose Raul Mulino announced on Friday that a plane carrying former presidents was prevented from departing due to a blockade of Venezuela's airspace.

Last week, Venezuela issued a decree closing its borders by land, air, and sea from midnight on Friday, aimed at ensuring security for the presidential election scheduled for Sunday. Among the passengers on the grounded plane were former Panamanian president Mireya Moscoso and other ex-presidents. Mulino revealed on a social media post that the aircraft was denied permission to take off from Tocumen as long as they remained onboard.

Additionally, a flight from Panama's Copa Airlines, heading to Panama from Caracas, was also not allowed to take off. Venezuela's Ministry of Information and Copa Airlines have yet to respond to requests for comment.

Earlier this week, former Argentine President Alberto Fernandez and Brazil's electoral court opted out of acting as observers for Venezuela's presidential election, raising further concerns about the election's transparency and fairness.

(With inputs from agencies.)