US plot to kidnap Maduro fails, pilot saves the day at critical moment, CIA's effort falls short!

According to a recent report by Associated Press, US federal agents once carried out a highly classified operation, attempting to incite the pilot of Venezuelan President Maduro's private jet to defect, in an attempt to capture Maduro by diverting the jet's flight path.

This plan began in April 2024 and ultimately ended in failure in September 2025, with all efforts being in vain due to the refusal and cooperation of the pilot, Bitner Vilegas. On April 24, 2024, an uninvited guest arrived at the US embassy in the Dominican Republic.

This informant provided key intelligence: two Dassault Falcon private jets used by Venezuelan President Maduro were being repaired locally, and the repairs used American-made parts, possibly violating US sanctions against Venezuela.

The information quickly reached Edwin Lopez, a 50-year-old US Homeland Security Investigations agent, former US Army Ranger, who served as a staff member at the US embassy in the Dominican Republic.

Lopez realized this was a rare opportunity. He immediately received approval from his superiors and the Dominican authorities to "interrogate" five Venezuelan pilots who had come to collect the planes in the hangar where the two aircraft were stored.

The Venezuelan pilot team included a key figure - General Bitner Vilegas, the president's private jet pilot, and also a trusted member of the presidential honor guard.

In the secret meeting in the hangar, Lopez focused his attention on Vilegas.

The atmosphere during the conversation was tense. Lopez directly proposed an astonishing deal to this pilot: if Vilegas secretly changed the flight path of Maduro's private jet during the flight, sending the president to a location controlled by the United States, he would receive a large sum of money and US protection.

Lopez even provided several specific destination options, including Puerto Rico, the Guantanamo Bay US military base, or the Dominican Republic.

Faced with such a bold proposal, Vilegas did not make a commitment at that time, but made an unexpected move - he provided Lopez with his mobile phone number.

This action was understood by the Americans as a possible signal of cooperation, thus initiating a 16-month-long attempt to subvert him. The turning point came in September 2025.

On the 18th of that month, Lopez saw a flight tracking message indicating that an aircraft related to Maduro was flying over Caracas. He immediately sent a message to ask Vilegas.

This time, Vilegas gave a clear and firm response, replying: "We Venezuelans are different stuff; we are not traitors."

Lopez did not give up, but instead further pressured him, even mentioning Vilegas's three children, implying they could have a better future in the United States.

This move completely enraged Vilegas, who directly blacklisted Lopez and cut off all contact.

On September 24, Vilegas appeared publicly in uniform on the Venezuelan state television, standing beside the Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello.

Cabello praised Vilegas in the program as a "steadfast patriot" and emphasized that "Venezuelan soldiers will not be bought with money."

Original article: www.toutiao.com/article/1847389143872512/

Statement: This article represents the views of the author.