Incident Overview
Date: Sunday 8 May 1994
Aircraft Type: Antonov An-24
Owner/operator: Cubana de Aviaci¢n
Location: Miami International Airport, FL (MIA) –
ÿ United States of America
Phase of Flight: En route
Casualties: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 23
Component Affected: AircraftAircraft
Category: Unlawful Interference

A Cubana aircraft, en route from Havana, Cuba to Nassau, Bahamas, diverted to Miami International Airport in Florida due to a pilot’s request for political asylum. The pilot locked himself inside and changed course, leaving the rest of the crew and passengers behind. The pilot was the only individual requesting asylum.A Cubana aircraft, en route from Havana, Cuba to Nassau, Bahamas, diverted to Miami International Airport in Florida due to a pilot’s request for political asylum. The pilot locked himself inside and changed course, leaving the rest of the crew and passengers behind. The pilot was the only individual requesting asylum.
Description
The pilot of a Cubana aircraft diverted the plane to Miami International Airport in Florida and requested political asylum. After persuading the co-pilot to leave the flight deck, the pilot locked himself inside alone and changed course. The plane was en route from Havana, Cuba, to Nassau, Bahamas. The pilot was the only person on the aircraft to request asylum. The other crew members-two co-pilots, a mechanic, a security operations agent, and two flight attendants-returned to Cuba with the aircraft several hours after landing. None of the 16 passengers were Cuban citizens; they were released to continue their vacations.
Primary Cause
Pilot’s request for political asylum.Pilot’s request for political asylum.Share on: