Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro (left) on a flight. (Photo: thethaovanhoa.vn)

The US granted approval for a flight plan which allowed Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro to fly over the Atlantic Ocean on his way to China this weekend. State Department deputy spokeswoman Marie Harf said Washington told Caracas Thursday night that permission was granted even though the request had not been properly submitted. Earlier in the day, Venezuelan Foreign Minister Elias Jaua told media the aircraft carrying Maduro to China was forced to find an alternate flight path and expressed his hope that the US will early repair its mistake.