Havana – Nueva Gerona

On August 9, 1961 at 12:00 AM, Havana – Nueva Gerona experienced a crash involving Curtiss C-46 Commando, operated by Cubana de Aviación, with the event recorded near Havana La Habana.

The flight was categorized as scheduled revenue flight and the reported phase was takeoff (climb) at a plain, valley crash site.

53 people were known to be on board, 3 fatalities were recorded, 50 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 5.7%.

Crew on board: 3, crew fatalities: 1, passengers on board: 50, passenger fatalities: 2, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is terrorism act, hijacking, sabotage. Five minutes after takeoff from Havana Airport, five hijackers attempted to enter the flight deck. Two guards tried to stop the hijackers and shots were fired. During the struggle the captain was killed as well as one hijackers and a guard. The copilot was able to complete an emergency landing in a sugar cane field. The undercarriage were sheared off and the airplanes came to rest. All other occupants were evacuated safely.

Aircraft reference details include registration CU-T607.

Geospatial coordinates for this crash are approximately 23.1234°, -82.2884°.