The interim government in Venezuela has released at least four U.S. citizens who were imprisoned under President Nicolás Maduro's regime, Fox News confirmed.

The release marks the first known release of Americans in the South American country since the U.S. military completed an operation to capture authoritarian Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, who is now facing federal drug trafficking charges in New York.

"We welcome the release of detained Americans in Venezuela," a State Department official said Tuesday. "This is an important step in the right direction by the interim authorities."

The release of American citizens was first reported by Bloomberg.

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President Donald Trump said Saturday that Venezuela had begun releasing political prisoners.

"Venezuela has started the process, in a BIG WAY, of releasing their political prisoners," Trump wrote on Truth Social. "Thank you! I hope those prisoners will remember how lucky they got that the USA came along and did what had to be done."

Venezuela's interim government has reported that 116 prisoners have been released, although only about 70 have been verified by the non-governmental organization Justicia, Encuentro y Perdón, according to Bloomberg.

National Assembly President Jorge Rodríguez said prisoner releases would continue, according to the outlet.

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The U.S. government issued a new security alert Saturday urging Americans in Venezuela to leave the country immediately, citing security concerns and limited ability to provide emergency assistance, the U.S. Embassy in Caracas said.

"U.S. citizens in Venezuela should leave the country immediately," the embassy said in the alert.

The warning pointed to reports of armed groups operating on Venezuelan roads.

Following the military operation, Trump suggested that the U.S. would "run" Venezuela for an extended period.

"We’re going to run the country until such time as we can do a safe, proper and judicious transition," he said.

Passengers aboard a taxiing aircraft were reportedly left horrified last month when chilling screams suddenly echoed from beneath the cabin just moments before takeoff.  

According to the officials, a ground crew member became trapped inside the plane’s cargo hold when doors "inadvertently closed" behind him, according to local station CBC. 

The incident happened on Dec. 13 when Air Canada Flight 1502 was preparing to depart Toronto Pearson Airport for Moncton, New Brunswick, the outlet said. 

The Airbus flight, which was carrying 184 passengers, was ultimately canceled following the incident.  

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Passengers told CBC that distressing sounds of muffled banging and desperate screams quickly filled the rear of the aircraft as it began taxiing toward the runway, prompting flight attendants to sprint down the aisle in alarm.

"Some of the people that were sitting towards the back of the plane heard the person screaming and banging, trying to get their attention," passenger Gabrielle Caron said. 

"We could see the crew gathering around the plane, so we knew something was happening," she added. "Then, the pilot tells us that there is someone from the crew in the luggage hold."

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The aircraft reportedly halted before reaching the runway. Moments later, the trapped ground crew member emerged safely from the cargo and entered the cabin, reassuring shaken passengers that he was unharmed, Caron reported. 

Air Canada confirmed to CBC that no injuries were reported in the incident. 

Caron added that the crew member involved was reportedly assisting ground staff by loading items as an extra set of hands and may have been left unaccounted for when the doors closed.

The plane eventually returned to the terminal, where passengers were asked to disembark while the flight crew completed necessary paperwork, CBC reported.

The flight was ultimately canceled after several delays, the outlet said.

Fox News Digital reached out to Air Canada for more information.