The plane used to attack a suspected drug trafficking ship in the Caribbean last September was part of a fleet of disguised planes that are painted to look like civilian planes and usually reserved for conducting surveillance, two people familiar with the matter told ABC News.
The detail, first reported published by The New York Times, raises additional questions about the legality of the September 2 attacks, which killed 11 people, including two people who survived an initial attack.
The attack was the first of dozens of attacks on vessels in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific that the administration said were transporting illegal narcotics.
President Trump announced on his social media platform, on September 2, 2025, that he ordered U.S. military forces to conduct “a kinetic strike against positively identified Aragua Train narcoterrorists in the SOUTHCOM area of responsibility.”
@realDonaldTrump/Social Truth
“I have very, very serious concerns about the legality of our use of certain aircraft, and I think there needs to be more investigative efforts,” Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., told reporters Tuesday after a classified briefing on military operations.
The laws of armed conflict prohibit troops from impersonating civilians, who are granted special protection in war.
While there appears to be some debate over what actions exactly qualify as “perfidy” – a war crime – international rights groups say examples include feigning surrender, acting incapacitated and pretending to be a non-combatant.
The White House did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
A third person familiar with the incident, who declined to discuss the type of plane used for security reasons, told ABC News that the plane had been registered with the Air Force and was “squawking,” or emitting signals that made it clear the plane belonged to the US Air Force.
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth speaks to the media after a briefing for the House of Representatives on the situation in Venezuela, at the Capitol in Washington, on January 7, 2026.
Evelyn Hockstein/Reuters
“The U.S. military uses a wide range of standard and non-standard aircraft depending on mission requirements,” Defense Department press secretary Kinglsey Wilson said in a statement.
“Before each aircraft is deployed and employed, they go through a rigorous acquisition process to ensure compliance with national laws, department policies and regulations, and applicable international standards, including the law of armed conflict,” Wilson added.
Sources said the Air Force maintains a fleet of manned aircraft painted to look like civilian aircraft. These aircraft would be useful in surveillance and reconnaissance missions and their use would not violate the laws of war.
President Trump announced on his social media platform, on September 2, 2025, that he ordered U.S. military forces to conduct “a kinetic strike against positively identified Aragua Train narcoterrorists in the SOUTHCOM area of responsibility.”
@realDonaldTrump/Social Truth
The munitions used in the attack were stored inside the plane, rather than mounted on its wings, further disguising its purpose and preventing the targeted fighters from having the opportunity to surrender, according to a person familiar with the matter.
It was not immediately clear whether the plane used in the Sept. 2 attack was selected by the U.S. military because of its civilian appearance or whether it was conducting surveillance at the time the ship suspected of carrying drugs was spotted.
Republicans downplayed the detail.
“We camouflage our planes constantly,” said Sen. Markwayne Mullin, R-Okla.
