Immigration
Apparent asylum seeker lands Russian jet from Cuba at Miami training airport
U.S. officials are scrambling to determined how the Cuban pilot penetrated national aviation security protocols
October 21, 2022 3:32pm
Updated: October 21, 2022 6:42pm
A small single-engine Russian-made aircraft, which departed from Santi Spíritus in Cuba, landed at a small training airport in the Ochopee area of Florida close to the Everglades National Park.
Authorities said that a Cuban national identified only as Rubén Martínez piloted the jet in an escape from the communist island to the Dade Collier and Training and Transition Airport
Miami International Airport officials confirmed to ADN America via text message that the aircraft was identified as an Antonov AN-2 (Colt), and landed at the training airport at 11:30 in the morning.
Officials at Miami International Airport referred inquiries from ADN America to Custom Border Protection communication officials in Washington, D.C. who said they were still collecting information on the matter.
The federal agency is still investigating what happened, and are taking a keen interest in learning how the pilot was able to avoid U.S. air traffic controls and security protocols to land in Florida.
This story is still developing.
