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Hijacked plane lands with military escort
Six hijackers took over the Cuban airliner. Suspects were in custody late Wednesday.
©Associated Press
March 20, 2003
KEY WEST -- A Cuban airliner carrying 29 passengers was hijacked Wednesday night and landed under U.S. military escort at Key West International Airport, U.S. authorities said.
Six hijackers took over the plane and surrendered to authorities in Key West, said FBI spokeswoman Judy Orihuela in Miami.
She did not know whether any of the hijackers, passengers or six crew members were hurt.
"All I have right now is that it was resolved," Orihuela said.
Air traffic controllers at Miami International Airport spotted the plane on radar about 7:45 p.m. and were unable to make voice contact, said FAA spokeswoman Kathleen Bergen.
Air Force fighter jets were scrambled from Homestead Air Force Base and escorted the Douglas DC-3 to Key West, Bergen said.
The plane landed a little after 8 p.m., and all the passengers were released about a half hour later, Bergen said.
The plane originated from the Isle of Youth, off Cuba's southwestern coast, Bergen said.
The aircraft was still on the runway more than an hour after it landed, said Becky Herrin, a Monroe County sheriff's spokeswoman.
The alleged hijackers were in FBI custody, and the passengers were being interviewed by U.S. Customs agents, Herrin said.
"The hijackers were separated fairly quickly from the passengers and crew. Everyone's okay," Herrin said. "Nobody tried ... anything."
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