Written in MEXICO he
A Mexican government airplane, registration XC-VSA, has been detected making flights from Venezuela amid heightened tensions between the U.S. and the South american nation.This raises questions about the purpose of these trips and Mexico’s role in the regional dynamic.
Rare Aircraft, Mysterious Flights
Here’s what we know about the plane and its recent activity.
the aircraft is a twin-engine Learjet 28, manufactured in 1978. Remarkably, only five of this model were ever produced by the American company, and the Mexican government acquired one of them. According to flight tracking data from flightradar24, the plane has made three trips in the last seven days.
The first flight occurred last Thursday, originating not from a commercial airport, but from the municipality of La Guaira, approximately 70 kilometers from the venezuelan capital. The destination of that flight remains unknown.
On Monday, flightradar24 data shows the aircraft flew over Venezuelan territory around 9:00 p.m.Central Time (Mexico), though the specific takeoff location wasn’t identified.Again, the landing site is currently unknown.
The most recent detected takeoff was Wednesday afternoon, around 3:00 p.m. Central Time (Mexico), near the beach of Chirimena in the municipality of Miranda, Venezuela. The plane then headed towards Mexico,but its final landing location has not been steadfast.
Did you know? Aircraft with registrations starting with “XC” are reserved for use by the Mexican federation,state,and municipal governments.
Federation Aircraft and Registry Questions
According to the federal Civil Aviation Agency of Mexico, aircraft registrations beginning with “XC†are designated for use by the federation – excluding military aircraft – as well as state, municipal governments, and parastatal entities.
Interestingly, the XC-VSA is not currently listed in the Mexican aeronautical Registry, which was last updated in march by the Government of Mexico. This omission adds another layer of intrigue to the situation.
Since 2019, the Mexican government has maintained a catalog of aircraft available for sale, including the well-known presidential plane (TP01, José MarÃa Morelos y Pavón). However, the XC-VSA is not included in that list.
Pro tip Flight tracking data, like that from flightradar24, can be a valuable resource for monitoring aircraft movements, but data accuracy isn’t always guaranteed.
The lack of clarity surrounding these flights and the aircraft’s status raises legitimate questions about its purpose and who authorized its use. As tensions between the U.S. and Venezuela continue, the movements of this Mexican government plane warrant further scrutiny.
Reader question What is the typical process for registering an aircraft with the Mexican Aeronautical Registry?
