An Antonov AN-2 aircraft belonging to the Cuban national air service, Cubanacan, was hijacked and forced to land at the U.S. navy base at Guantanamo. The hijacker, a Cuban Interior Ministry official, allegedly used a firearm to force the pilot of the plane to land at the U.S. base. The plane was on a regularly scheduled domestic flight out of Bayamo, with stopovers in Santiago, Guantanamo City, Baracoa, and Moa.

Seven other passengers and the crew were aboard the plane, and all immediately expressed their desire to leave the U.S. base. They were allowed to do so. The hijacker asked for political asylum and was held by U.S. authorities at Guantanamo pending an investigation. The suspect was brought to the United States and arraigned in U.S. District Court, Washington, DC, October 25 on charges of air piracy.