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
End of Page
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Cuban Information Archives. All Rights Reserved.
