the United States has seized Venezuelan president Nicolas maduro's airplane citing violations of us sanctions and other criminal issues the aircraft was transported to Florida on Monday according to two US officials this action represents a significant escalation in the strained relationship between the US and Venezuela the seizure which took place in the Dominican Republic is part of an ongoing investigation into alleged Corrupt Practices within the Venezuelan government the plane aaso Falcon 900 ex is described by officials as Venezuela's equivalent of Air Force 1 it has previously been seen during maduro's State visits around the world