What happened
A four-engine airplane departed from Bridgetown-Grantley Adams Airport at 17:15 local time, beginning a scheduled service to Havana with a stopover in Kingston, Jamaica. Approximately nine minutes after takeoff, the captain notified air traffic control of an emergency situation involving an explosion within the aircraft. While being cleared to perform an emergency return to the airport, the aircraft initiated a right-hand turn, lost altitude, and crashed into the ocean roughly 8 km from the coast.
The impact caused the aircraft to disintegrately, leading to 73 fatalities. Among those who perished were 24 athletes belonging to the Cuban National Fencing Team.
Findings
Investigations concluded that an explosive device had been positioned in the rear section of the cabin. The detonation occurred during the initial climb phase, which resulted in severe damage to the aircraft's control systems. Responsibility for the bombing was claimed by the Coordination of United Revolutionary Organizations, an anti-Castro group led by Luis Posada Carriles.