A
History Of Defections By Airplane |
In 1987, Cuban Brigadier General Rafael
Del Pino Diaz flew a Cessna to Florida's Key West Air
Station. He was the highest-ranking Cuban military officer
ever to defect to the United States. Although his case
may be the most famous airplane defection, it's not
the only one. Here's a breakdown of some others.
March 1991
In March of 1991, Cuban Major Orestes
Perez flew an old MiG-23 fighter into Key West. It was
18 months later when Perez flew back to Cuba in a private
plane and smuggled his family off the island.
June 1991
In June of '91, Roberto Marin flew a stolen crop duster
past Homestead Air Force Base and was nearly in Miami
when he was finally picked up on radar. The ex-Cuban
air force pilot and four men landed at Miami International
Airport.
December 1992
One of the largest groups came in December of 1992,
when captain Carlos Cancio diverted an Aero Caribbean
flight to Miami. Cancio's co-pilot and four others later
went back to Cuba with the plane. Cancio was never charged.
August 1996
In 1996, three men allegedly hijacked a single-engine
plane. Video showed the plane running out of gas and
crashing into the Gulf of Mexico. The crew of a passing
Russian freighter rescued the men. The three accused
hijackers were acquitted.
Copyright 2001 by Click10.com. The Associated Press
contributed to this report. All rights reserved. This
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September 21, 2000: 
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