Cuban Airliner Lands in U.S. under Military Escort

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Thursday, March 20, 2003

Cuban Airliner Lands in U.S. under Military Escort

A Cuban airliner carrying 29 passengers was hijacked at knifepoint Wednesday night and landed under U.S. military escort in Key West, U.S. authorities said.

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A Cuban airliner carrying 29 passengers was hijacked at knifepoint Wednesday night and landed under U.S. military escort in Key West, U.S. authorities said.

Six hijackers took over the plane and surrendered to authorities in Key West, said FBI spokeswoman Judy Orihuela in Miami. They will face federal hijacking charges, she said.

There were no immediate reports of injuries among the hijackers, passengers or six crew members. Five of the passengers were minors, an airport spokesman said.

It was not immediately known what motivated the hijackers. Nor was their destination clear.

The plane departed from Cuba and air traffic controllers at Miami International Airport spotted it on radar about 7:45 p.m. They were unable to make voice contact, said FAA spokeswoman Kathleen Bergen.

Air Force fighter jets from Homestead Air Force Base and a Black Hawk helicopter from the Customs Service escorted the Douglas DC-3 to Key West, Bergen said. The plane landed at 8:06 p.m.

The aircraft "was followed by three or four U.S. Navy jets. The plane sat on the runway for about 15 minutes before the doors finally opened," said Robert Accerra, an airport worker.

The hijackers surrendered to airport police on the tarmac, said Peter Horton, manager at Key West International Airport. Passengers were brought into the airport within a half hour.

The hijackers were in FBI custody and the passengers were being interviewed by U.S. Customs agents, said sheriff's spokeswoman Becky Herrin.

Orihuela said the passengers and crew would be returned to Cuba.

Source: Agencies

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