Photo Essay: N874TW, The DOJ Jet That Brought Maduro to New York

On January 3, 2026, a Boeing 757 landed at Stewart Air National Guard Base in Newburgh, New York. For the thousands tracking its path on FlightRadar24, this was more than simply a federal flight. Rather, it was the final leg of an extraordinary journey for the captured Venezuelan leader, Nicolas Maduro.

The Approach to SWF

The aircraft, a Boeing 757-200, traveled from Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, to upstate New York, bypassing the more commercial hubs of Manhattan.

During its three-and-a-half-hour flight from Cuba, N874TW became the most tracked aircraft in the world. Millions watched the digital breadcrumbs on FlightRadar24 and ADS-B Exchange. This transparency turned a high-security federal transfer into a global event, with N874TW serving as the mechanical center of the narrative.

The most significant moment of the aircraft's career occurred as the cabin door opened. Nicolas Maduro, accompanied by his wife Cilia Flores, was escorted down the stairs in custody. The image of a former head of state disembarking a DOJ narrow-body jet marked a definitive shift in the geopolitical landscape, signaling the end of his time in Caracas and the beginning of his legal proceedings in the Southern District of New York.

N874TW's History

N874TW (MSN 24524) has a storied history. Built in 1989, it spent decades as part of the American Airlines fleet (formerly registered as N616AA).

It was then stored in Roswell Air Center from April 22, 2012, until July 17, 2012, when it was acquired by L3 Communications.

In 2014, it was acquired by the U.S. government for use by the Department of Justice. Unlike the plush diplomatic jets typically used by world leaders, the interior of this 757 is configured for the Justice Prisoner and Alien Transportation System (JPATS), emphasizing security over luxury.

While being operated by the U.S. government, the aircraft was first painted in an all-white livery. It was re-registered in February of 2019.

The aircraft was later repainted into the livery it wears today.

Maduro Landing at SWF

New Jersey-based aviation photographer AJ photographed the Boeing 757 landing at SWF with Maduro onboard. More photos can be found on his Instagram profile, @aj.spots.nj.

After landing, Maduro was transferred from the 757 to a waiting helicopter for transport to Manhattan, eventually being processed at the Metropolitan Detention Center (MDC) in Brooklyn. N874TW, its mission complete, remained on the Stewart ramp briefly before returning to federal service.

No longer just a former commercial airliner, it is now etched into history as the vessel of one of the most significant extraditions in the 21st century.