U.S. denies military plane entered Venezuelan airspace as claimed by President Hugo Chavez

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A United States military plane did not enter Venezuelan airspace as alleged by President Hugo Chavez, U.S. officials said today.

An Air Force spokeswoman based in Miami denied Chavez’s claim that

a U.S. plane twice entered Venezuelan airspace Friday.

Chavez had said a U.S. plane was met by Venezuelan military aircraft and escorted out of the country’s airspace, calling it a provocation by the U.S. government.

“No U.S. aircraft entered Venezuelan airspace,” said Air Force Tech Sgt. Shanda De Anda, according to the Associated Press.

-- Efrain Hernandez Jr.

[NOTE: This caption was revised to clarify that the photograph of Chavez was taken Jan. 8, not the photo that he is holding.]