AIRLINER HIJACKED

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32360, 28 July 1970, Page 8

AIRLINER HIJACKED

Cuba Allows Quick Return (N.Z. t.A -»«ur«r—Copyright > MEXICO CITY, July 26.' Four young men, believed to be exiles from the Dominican Republic yesterday hijacked a Mexican airliner to Havana, but the aircraft was Immediately released by Cuba and returned to Mexico City. The aircraft, a DCS of the Mexican Aeronaves Company, was carrying 27 passengers and a crew of four on an early morning flight from the resort of Acapulco to the capital when the hijacking occurred. Airport sources said that two of the hijackers went to the pilot’s cabin 10 minutes after the aicraft took off from Acapulco, put a pistol to his head and ordered him to fly to Cuba. Two others stayed outside to guard the passengers. The pilot, Captain Gabriel Maida, told the men he did not have enough fuel to reach Havana, and the four agreed to allow the plane to land at Mexico City. But they allowed none of the passengers to get out during the refuelling. To ensure the safety of the passengers, who included some 20 girl tourists from the United States whom the hijackers had threatened to shoot if any attempt was made to stop the airliner leaving, airport authorities kept the incident secret until the airliner left for Cuba.