Chinook pilot who helped plan Venezuelan operation injured during Caracas mission to capture Maduro, sources say

A Chinook helicopter pilot who helped plan the operation to capture former Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro was injured in the leg during the predawn mission, said U.S. officials who spoke to CBS News on condition of anonymity to discuss national security issues.

At the start of this daring operation, a formation of U.S. Army helicopters carrying a squad of Delta Force commandos slipped toward Caracas largely unnoticed.

But as the plane got closer to the heavily fortified compound where Maduro was believed to be holed up, the calm was shattered. Venezuelan defensive positions opened fire and U.S. helicopters responded with suppressive fire of their own, according to U.S. officials.

A heavy twin-rotor MH-47 Chinook, the lead aircraft of the formation responsible for inserting the assault team, was hit by hostile fire.

Although damaged, it remained aloft and completed its course. U.S. officials who spoke to CBS News said the Chinook pilot who also helped plan the mission was repeatedly wounded in the leg during the engagement.

On Tuesday, a Pentagon official told CBS News that two U.S. service members were still recovering from injuries sustained during the incursion into Venezuela that the Defense Department dubbed Operation Absolute Resolve.

“They are receiving excellent medical care and are on the road to recovery. Five other service members were injured but have already returned to duty. The fact that this extremely complex and grueling mission was successfully executed with so few casualties is a testament to the expertise of our joint warfighters,” the Pentagon official said.

The New York Times first reported details of the engagement with the Chinook and the injured pilot.

Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, were taken to a federal detention center in New York after the raid.

“I am innocent. I am not guilty, I am an honest man”, Maduro said through an interpreter during his arraignment Monday. He added that he is “still president of my country.”

Wednesday, President Trump has said he thinks US could oversee things in Venezuela for ‘much longer’ than a year, saying The New York Times that “only time will tell” how long Washington will demand direct oversight of the country.

Following Mr. Trump’s comments, the Republican-controlled Senate makes progress a war powers resolution aimed at limiting its ability to strike further in Venezuela. Five Republicans joined all Democrats in voting for the measure.