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THE arrival on October 9, of a United States Air Force (USAF) C17 aircraft at Piarco International Airport, set many tongues wagging with social media posts claiming the US military was arriving en masse into Trinidad as part of the ongoing American military action in the Caribbean Sea against Venezuelan narco-terrorists.

However, when Newsday checked with officials of the American embassy in Port of Spain, the explanation given was that the aircraft had come to collect and repatriate the body of an embassy official who had died earlier this month.

An embassy official, in response to a query, told Newsday, “The US Embassy confirms that a US military aircraft landed at Piarco International Airport on October 9 to repatriate the remains of our embassy colleague who passed away last week. "We remain deeply grateful for the caring support of the government and people of Trinidad and Tobago, especially at this difficult time.”