Venezuelan Airline Conviasa Denounces Alleged Poor Treatment of Passengers in Jamaica After Flight Diversion

Venezuela's state-owned airline, Conviasa, has lodged a strong complaint against Jamaican airport authorities, alleging that passengers on a flight from Cancun to Venezuela's Maiquetía were subjected to "hostile conduct" after an unscheduled diversion. The flight was reportedly forced to land in Jamaica, where passengers were left stranded for more than eight hours without adequate assistance or basic amenities.

Conviasa stated that the diversion occurred under "unforeseen conditions" and outside normal operational parameters. The airline claims that the landing in Jamaica did not fully respect existing air transit permits. Passengers reportedly endured prolonged uncertainty, lacking the "minimum conditions of assistance" and proper care expected under international air transport regulations.

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The passengers remained for more than eight hours in conditions of uncertainty, without adequate attention in accordance with international standards governing the protection of air transport users. Conviasa expresses its strongest rejection of the conduct of the competent authorities in Jamaica, for not guaranteeing the minimum conditions of assistance, dignified treatment, and operational support to the passengers and the aircraft during the contingency, which significantly aggravated the situation and exposed Venezuelan citizens to unacceptable treatment.

The Venezuelan airline expressed its "vehement rejection" of the Jamaican authorities' actions, deeming the treatment of Venezuelan citizens "unacceptable." Conviasa further suggested that Jamaica's conduct aligns with a pattern of actions detrimental to Venezuela's legitimate interests, referencing past disputes over Venezuelan state assets. The airline affirmed its commitment to passenger safety and rights, vowing to pursue necessary actions through national and international channels to address the incident.

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Jamaica maintained a "hostile conduct towards the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, including past dispossession of rights and equity participation of the Venezuelan state in the Petrojam refinery, which constitutes a pattern of actions contrary to the legitimate interests of Venezuela."