“Due to the serious irregularities committed on flight TP173, and in accordance with national civil aviation regulations, the operations of the airline TAP are suspended for 90 days,” said Venezuela's Minister of Transport, Hipólito Abreu, on Twitter.

Last week, the Venezuelan Government accused TAP of violating "international standards", for allegedly allowing the transport of explosives and for hiding the identity of the Venezuelan opposition leader, Juan Guaidó, on a flight to Caracas.

According to the Venezuelan Government, Juan Marquez, Guaidó's uncle who accompanied his nephew on that flight, carried “tactical pocket lights” that hid “explosive chemicals in the battery compartment”.

Thus, Venezuelan authorities consider that TAP, on that flight between Lisbon and Caracas, violated international security standards, allowing explosives, and also concealed the identity of Venezuela's self-proclaimed interim President, Juan Guaidó, in the passenger list, although airport security is not the responsibility of the transport companies.

The Portuguese Government has already asked for an investigation to ascertain the veracity of the accusations involving the Portuguese air carrier, saying it has no evidence of irregularities in the flight that carried Marquez and Guaidó.