A Cuban DC-3 airliner carrying 35 passengers and crew was hijacked early yesterday and forced to fly to Florida, where it landed in Key West under escort of US military jets. No injuries were reported, and the passengers were held for questioning. The plane was first spotted by Miami air- traffic controllers as it headed from the communist-ruled Caribbean island across the 90 miles of the Florida Straits which separate Cuba from Key West.
US military fighter jets were scrambled from the Homestead air reserve base south of Miami to escort the plane when it was spotted approaching from Cuba just before 8 p. The US government put the nation on a heightened state of alert this week in advance of an invasion of Iraq. The plane pulled over and stopped. It was a peaceful resolution. Cubans have stolen or hijacked planes on a number of occasions to leave the island and reach the US, where they usually seek asylum.
The AN-2 is used in Cuba as a commuter plane and a crop duster. Nine of the 10 people on board were rescued, while one drowned. We use cookies to personalise content, target and report on ads, to provide social media features and to analyse our traffic.
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