CUBA: Hijackers of three Venezuelan aircraft free hostages and surrender to Cuban authorities

Record ID: 862988

  • Title: CUBA: Hijackers of three Venezuelan aircraft free hostages and surrender to Cuban authorities
  • Date: 9th December 1981
  • Summary: HAVANA, CUBA (VISNEWS) GV PAN Aircraft on runway at Havana airport. (2 SHOTS) GV PAN Control tower TO aircraft on runway ZOOM INTO CU nameplate 'El Andina' on nose section SV INT Passengers seated at table eating meal. (2 SHOTS)
  • Embargoed: 24th December 1981 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Cuba, Cuba
  • City:
  • Country: Cuba
  • Topics: Crime / Law Enforcement,Transport
  • Reuters ID: LVABKAR995AKE2B1OINALPEWWDWE
  • Aspect Ratio:
  • Story Text: INTRODUCTION: In the Cuban capital, Havana on Tuesday (8 December) the hijackings of three Venezuelan airliners ended when a total of about 150 passengers on the planes were released by their captors. The three airliners were hijacked simultaneously on Monday (7 December) while on internal flights in Venezuela. They originally carried more than 250 people - many of whom were freed during the two days in return for more fuel and food.

    SYNOPSIS: The three aircraft landed at Havana's Jose Marti airport within a few hours of each other. About 12 heavily armed hijackers gave themselves up to Cuban authorities. Their nationalities remained unknown early Wednesday (9 December). They had demanded a ten million dollar ransom and the release of more than 30 political prisoners in Venezuela.

    After their release the passengers were taken to an airport restaurant. They said the hijackers used no violence, and distributed armbands bearing the insignia of an El Salvador liberation movement, in an apparent propaganda exercise.
    InitialsJS Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2014. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
Register