Caracas: The unusual arrival of a Russian passenger plane in Caracas has set social media abuzz with rumours about its mission after the Kremlin pledged to support its ally Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro against a US-backed effort to drive him from office.

A Boeing 777X Credit:Boeing

The Boeing 777, with space for some 400 passengers and belonging to Russia's Nordwind Airlines, was parked by a private corner of the airport after flying direct from Moscow, according to flight tracking data and Reuters photos.

It was the first time it had made the route, the data showed.

Neither Nordwind nor the Venezuelan government immediately responded to a request to comment on why the jet had flown to Caracas.