A federal agent's daring plan: Convincing Maduro's chief pilot to turn on the Venezuelan leader

A federal agent had a daring plan. Convince Nicholas Maduro's chief pilot to surreptitiously divert the Venezuelan president's plane to a place where US authorities could nab the strong man. According to Associated Press, his intriguefilled plan had all the ingredients of a cold war spy thriller, luxury private jets, a secretive meeting at an airport hanger, and high stakes diplomacy in a delicate dance to lure a loyal Maduro lieutenant to switch sides. There was even a final bit of intrigue aimed at rattling Maduro about the pilot's true loyalties. More broadly, the scheme reveals the extent and often slap dash fashion to which the US government has for years sought to topple Maduro. Clearly an indication that's an important figure on board and audience. >> Yes. If you're just joining us, we welcome you across the Grenadines, the Caribbean, and the world taking place here at the island international airport between both leaders and the car. The secret effort to recruit Nicholas Maduro's pilot to join a plot to bring the Venezuelan strongman to justice began in the Dominican Republic last year. A federal agent caught wind that Maduro's planes were being serviced in the Caribbean. And he sought permission for the Dominican authorities to approach the pilots for Maduro who were there to oversee the work. He made a pitch. He said to the pilot, "Look, you will be a very rich man. your family will be taken care of and you'll have the adoration of millions of Venezuelans if you just cooperate and bring Maduro to a safe landing spot somewhere in the Caribbean where he can then be arrested by American authorities and brought to justice in the United States where he faces a $50 million reward. The plot ultimately did not succeed. uh the pilot either had no intention of ever cooperating or got cold feet. But it is incredibly relevant because now the US has made no secret of its efforts to get rid of Maduro. Uh they've President Trump has deployed multiple warships, thousands of troops, attack helicopters to the Caribbean, and even last week authorized the CIA to conduct covert operations inside Venezuela. You know, Venezuela has been a thorn in the side of Washington for the last 25 years. uh first under former president Ugo Chavez and then now with Nicolas Maludo who is Chavez's handpicked successor. Uh Venezuela has actively worked to oppose the United States uh globally and especially in Latin America. Uh and that's one of the main reasons why we've seen uh such a focus in Washington uh on regime change in Venezuela. Nicholas Maduro is a brutal dictator. Uh, and I think this administration uh uh is interested in advancing democracy in Venezuela. But the other reality is that Venezuela is home to the world's largest oil reserves in the planet. Uh it has been the source of a migration crisis that has led 8 million Venezuelans to flee the country. Uh and of course, Venezuela is something of a staging ground for uh Chinese and Russian influence in the Western Hemisphere. So I think for all these reasons, the Trump administration has Venezuela in its crosshairs. Russian forces have lost a CA 52 alligator attack helicopter along with its crew. Fighter bomber, a pro-war Russian military blogger close to Russia's aerospace forces confined this. There have been no official statements from the Russian authorities confirming the loss of the helicopter and Ukraine's defense forces have not reported its destruction or damage either. Iderbomber posted a stock photo of a CA 52 on Monday, October 27th, accompanied by the message eternal flight brothers, apparently indicating the crew's death. The CA 52 alligator attack helicopter developed by the Russian CAM of experimental design bureau is capable of detecting vehicles at a considerable distance thanks to an opto electronic station installed in the nose of the hull. It reaches speeds of up to 300 km per hour and can conduct combat operations in difficult weather conditions and at any time of the day. It can conduct reconnaissance of the area and provide targeting and coordination of a group of combat helicopters. According to the military, the cost of a single CA 52 is estimated at $16 million. Earlier in February, Ukrainian troops also destroyed another CA 52 with its crew. That helicopter was taken down by a man pads on February 7th near Abdfka in the Daetsk region. According to the Orex AEN project, Russia lost at least 50 CA, 52 helicopters. 14 more were damaged. The exact number of losses is currently unknown. Russia was able to repair some of the damaged aircraft using components from donor aircraft. The CA 52 manufactured by CAM and operated by the Russian aerospace forces is designed to engage armored vehicles, enemy aircraft, and ground targets while also performing reconnaissance missions. It is equipped with advanced targeting systems, heavy armor, and precisiong guided weapons. Despite its firepower and advanced sensors, the CA 52 has proven vulnerable to Ukrainian short-range air defense systems and manportable air defense systems. Since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Ukrainian forces have repeatedly shot down CA 52 helicopters in various regions, including near Kersonen and Zaparia. Heat. Heat.