Hijacking of Costa Rican regional flight leads to crash in Florida Strait

No fatalities • Havana, Cuba • Flight

A regional aircraft operating in Costa Rica was hijacked during a flight toward Florida, eventually crashing in the Florida Strait due to fuel exhaustion.

What happened

A regional flight operating within the airspace of Costa Rica was intercepted by individuals who took control of the aircraft. The hijackers reportedly intended to divert the plane's course toward Florida.

During the unauthorized flight, the aircraft ran out of usable fuel. As a result of this fuel exhaustion, the plane went down in the Florida Strait, approximately 56 km away from Havana, Cuba. During the incident, the hijackers set the aircraft on fire, which led to the total loss of the plane.

Findings

  • There were no casualties reported during the hijacking or the subsequent crash.
  • The destruction of the aircraft was caused by fire ignited by those on board.

Probable cause

The aircraft crashed due to running out of fuel following an unauthorized diversion.

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 1958-03-30 Curtiss C-46 Commando accident near Havana, Cuba?

A regional aircraft operating in Costa Rica was hijacked during a flight toward Florida, eventually crashing in the Florida Strait due to fuel exhaustion.

Were there any fatalities in the 1958-03-30 Curtiss C-46 Commando accident?

No fatalities were recorded in this accident.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 1958-03-30 involved a Curtiss C-46 Commando, registration TI-1019, operated by Aerolineas Nacionales - Costa Rica, at Havana, Cuba.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The aircraft crashed due to running out of fuel following an unauthorized diversion.

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