CUBAN INFORMATION ARCHIVES




DOCUMENT  0043


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PLANE HIJACKING
15 APR 1959


[REFERENCE: County Intelligence File "Cuban Revolution File" 1959, # 18335A]


DATE:  April 29, 1959

TO:  Thomas J. Kelly, Metropolitan Sheriff

FROM: Frank Kappel, Supervisor, Criminal Intelligence

SUBJECT: CUBAN REVOLUTIONARY ACTIVITIES, FLIGHT 905 "Q AIRLINES
                    OF CUBA

At 8:45 AM on April 15, 1959, Agent A.L. TARABOCHIA received information that a Cuban airliner was about to land at the Miami Airport after four individuals had forced the pilots at gunpoint to change course minutes after take-off from Havana.

The plane, a converted C-46, owned by AERONAS Q. Had left with three crew members and nineteen passengers.

The aircraft landed at about 8:55 AM and was immediately directed to park at the 36th Street International Terminal where officers of U.S. Immigration, Customs, Border Patrol and the Traffic and Patrol Division of the Public Safety Department met and escorted the passengers and crew to the U.S. Immigration offices for interrogation after the four escapees has surrendered their weapons.

The four Cubans were identified as:

ALFREDO MASSON y SANCHEZ
W/M, 51 years, former Sergeant of
S.I.M. (Military Intelligence). Subject
used the name of ROGELIO DIAZ on
passenger list.

ROLANDO MASSON y SANCHEZ
W/M 27 years, former member of S.I.M.,
used the name of CARLOS DIAZ on
passenger list.

JESUS E. MASSON y SANCHEZ
W/M, 25 years, former aviation mechanic
used the name of AGUSTIN DIAZ

LEANDRO SERRATE y ARRENCIBIA
W/M, 53 years, former Corporal of S.I.M.

ALFREDO MASSON who appeared to be the leader, declared that he had escaped from the Cabana fortress prison on March 1, 1959.  He was serving a twenty year sentence as a war criminal.

ROLANDO MASSON stated that he also had escaped from the Cabana prison on April 6, 1959 and joined his brother in hiding, with the younger brother JESUS, who had been acquitted at the trials could purchase tickets on the flight from Havana to Isle of Pines.

At 7:08 AM of April 15, 1959 the three brothers using the aforementioned fictitious names boarded the plane, and as soon as it became airborne, they put into effect their plan to seize the aircraft and force the pilots to take them to the Dominican Republic.

ALFREDO MASSON states that his brother JESUS immobilized the purser while he and the other brother disarmed a Cuban army Corporal and then proceeded towards the pilots cabin where they pointed their guns at the pilots and after yanking away their headsets ordered them to fly to Ciudad Trujillo, Dominican Republic.

The pilot advised the brothers that it was impossible to fly to the Dominican Republic due to insufficient fuel.  ALFREDO MASSON then ordered them to fly to Miami; when the pilot suggested Key West, the fugitives insisted on Miami.

A few minutes later, the pilot taking advantage of a moment of distraction of his guards managed to grab the headset and say "flight 905 going to Miami".

This signal alerted the tower at Camp Columbia in Havana and subsequently the U.S. Authorities.

This story was corroborated by the three crew members and the Army Corporal identified as:

CANDELARIO DELGADO, RUIZ (Pilot)
FAUSTO VALDEZ COMPANEL (Co-pilot)
JOSE LEON (Steward)
FRANCISCO ARAUYO CONSUEGRA (Corporal, Cuban Army)

The fourth fugitive, LEANDRO SERRATE stated that he joined the three brothers whom he knew previously after the plane had landed.  No harm was done to the passengers.

The four fugitives asked for political asylum in the U.S. and after being interrogated by the different Federal Agencies concerned were taken to the Border Patrol Headquarters for further interrogation.

After refueling the aircraft, the remaining passengers were allowed to return to Cuba.

The weapons, two Colt 45's and a Smith and Wesson .38 M.P. were confiscated by U.S. Customs Agents.

Respectfully submitted,
  

A. L. Tarabochia
Intelligence Agent
 
Frank Kappel, Supervisor
Criminal Intelligence


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