A US Navy plane was experiencing "intermittent navigation problems" last weekend and strayed into Venezuelan air space, on Monday admitted the Pentagon, which explained that the incursion was involuntary.

"A US S-3 Viking aircraft conducting counter-drugs operations lost navigational situational awareness causing it to fly into Venezuelan airspace off the mainland coast," the Joint Interagency Task Force South, whose main objective is to fight illegal drug trade in the Caribbean, said in a statement.

"Support of Venezuelan air traffic control was greatly appreciated as they rendered assistance in guiding the US aircraft to international airspace," said the statement.

"The incident is subject to an investigation," it added.

Venezuelan Foreign Affairs Minister, Nicolás Maduro, earlier on Monday reported a violation of the Venezuelan air space by a US Navy plane. He said he would summon US ambassador in Caracas Patrick Duddy to address the issue, reported Efe.