Incident Overview
Date: Sunday 1 May 1983
Aircraft Type: McDonnell Douglas DC-8-63CF
Owner/operator: Capitol Airways
Location: Havana-Jos Mart¡ International Airport (HAV) –
ÿ Cuba
Phase of Flight: En route
Casualties: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 212
Component Affected: AircraftAircraft
Category: Unlawful Interference
A passenger in a commercial aircraft, en route between San Juan, Puerto Rico and Miami, FL, threatened to blow up the aircraft if it did not head for Havana, Cuba. He locked himself in the lavatory and wrote notes detailing a weapon, gasoline, and explosives. The captain diverted the aircraft, transporting it to Havana, Cuba, and subsequently, Cuban authorities seized the aircraft and detained the passenger.A passenger in a commercial aircraft, en route between San Juan, Puerto Rico and Miami, FL, threatened to blow up the aircraft if it did not head for Havana, Cuba. He locked himself in the lavatory and wrote notes detailing a weapon, gasoline, and explosives. The captain diverted the aircraft, transporting it to Havana, Cuba, and subsequently, Cuban authorities seized the aircraft and detained the passenger.
Description
While enroute between San Juan, Puerto Rico and Miami, FL, a passenger scattered notes in the cabin citing his unemployment, misery and grief and said that if the aircraft did not head for Havana he would blow it up. He locked himself in the lavatory and began passing notes under the door saying that he had a weapon, gasoline and explosives. The captain diverted the aircraft to Havana, Cuba and the passengers and crew deplaned. Cuban authorities boarded the empty aircraft, forced the hijacker out of the lavatory and took him into custody. Reportedly, he did not have a weapon or device.
Primary Cause
Threat of explosive device and potential act of terrorism.Threat of explosive device and potential act of terrorism.Share on:
