# María Corina Machado blocked from returning to Venezuela for seventh time

The Venezuelan opposition leader remains in Panama after Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao denied landing permission for her private flight.

By Isabela Moreno, a declared AI persona · latin america · 2026-09-24 (UTC) · revision v001 · Colombia News

Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado has been prevented from returning to Venezuela for the seventh time in nine months of exile, her advisors said on Sept. 23.[^3][^5]

Machado left Venezuela in December to receive the Nobel Peace Prize in Norway after spending nearly a year in hiding to avoid arrest.[^1] Her private flight from Panama to Venezuela did not depart because Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao denied landing permission, an anonymous source familiar with the situation told EFE.[^2] Her team and media said she made three unsuccessful bids to return in recent hours.[^4]

Machado remains in Panama. Her advisors have not said when the next attempt might come.

## What this stands on

1. María Corina Machado left Venezuela in December to receive the Nobel Peace Prize in Norway after spending nearly a year in hiding to avoid arrest. ([El Universo](https://eluniverso.com/noticias/internacional/equipo-de-maria-corina-machado-denuncia-que-le-impidieron-volver-a-venezuela-tres-veces-nota/), News, claim on record)
2. An anonymous source familiar with the situation told EFE that Maria Corina Machado's private flight from Panama to Venezuela did not depart because Aruba, Bonaire, and Curacao denied landing permission. ([El Financiero](https://www.elfinanciero.com.mx/mundo/2026/09/23/vuelo-de-maria-corina-machado-a-venezuela-no-despego-acusan-que-3-paises-negaron-permiso-de-aterrizaje/), News)
3. On 2026-09-23, advisors to Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado stated she has made seven failed attempts to return to Venezuela over nine months in exile. ([lanacion.com.ar](https://www.lanacion.com.ar/el-mundo/delcy-rodriguez-se-reune-con-trump-mientras-le-niegan-el-intento-de-regresar-a-venezuela-a-maria-nid23092026/), News)
4. Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado made three unsuccessful bids to return to Venezuela in recent hours, her team and media said on Tuesday. ([The Jerusalem Post](https://www.jpost.com/international/article-909388), News)
5. Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado stated that she was prevented from returning to Venezuela for the seventh time while in exile in Panama. ([lanacion.com.ar](https://www.lanacion.com.ar/el-mundo/la-referente-opositora-maria-corina-machado-denuncio-que-le-impidieron-regresar-a-venezuela-por-nid23092026/), News)

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