The aircraft used to strike a suspected drug boat in the Caribbean last September was part of a fleet of disguised planes that are painted to look like civilian aircraft and typically reserved for conducting surveillance, two people familiar with the matter told ABC News.
The detail, first reported by The New York Times, raises additional questions about the legality of the Sept. 2 strikes, which killed 11 people, including two people who survived an initial attack.
The strike was the first of dozens of strikes against vessels in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific the administration says were carrying illegal narcotics.
President Trump announced on his social media platform, Sept. 2, 2025, that he ordered U.S. military forces to conduct “a kinetic strike against positively identified Tren de Aragua Narcoterrorists in the SOUTHCOM area of responsibility.”
@realDonaldTrump/Truth Social
“I have very, very severe doubts about the legality of our use of certain aircraft, and I think there has to be further investigative effort,” Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., told reporters Tuesday after a classified briefing on military operations.
The laws of armed conflict prohibit troops from pretending to be civilians, who are granted special protections in warfare.
While there appears to be some debate as to what actions qualify exactly 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 due to security concerns, told ABC News the plane had been registered to the Air Force and was “squawking,” or emitting signals, that made clear the plane belonged to the U.S. Air Force.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth speaks to the media following a briefing for the House of Representatives on the situation in Venezuela, on Capitol Hill in Washington, January 7, 2026.
Evelyn Hockstein/Reuters
“The U.S. military utilizes a wide array of standard and nonstandard aircraft depending on mission requirements,” Defense Department Press Secretary Kinglsey Wilson said in a statement.
“Prior to the fielding and employment of each aircraft, they go through a rigorous procurement process to ensure compliance with domestic law, 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 crewed aircraft painted to appear as though they are civilian planes. Such aircraft would be useful in surveillance and reconnaissance missions and using it in such a way would not violate the laws of war.
President Trump announced on his social media platform, Sept. 2, 2025, that he ordered U.S. military forces to conduct “a kinetic strike against positively identified Tren de Aragua Narcoterrorists in the SOUTHCOM area of responsibility.”
@realDonaldTrump/Truth Social
The munitions used in the attack were stored inside the plane, instead of mounted on its wings — further disguising its purpose and preventing the targeted combatants from having an opportunity to surrender, according to one person familiar with the matter.
It was not immediately clear if the plane used in the Sept. 2 strike was selected by the U.S. military because of its civilian appearance or if it was conducting surveillance at the time when the boat alleged to carry drugs was spotted.
Republicans shrugged off the detail.
“We camouflage our planes constantly,” Sen. Markwayne Mullin, R-Okla., said.