4 skyjackers, ex-prisoners off to Cuba, Panama says

March 30, 1981

Four hijackers who seized a Honduran airliner and surrendered here Saturday night will travel to Cuba today (March 30), along with 15 Honduran prisoners whose release they demanded, Panamanian sources said. They said the hijackers, three men and a woman, were being housed at a military base pending their departure for Havana. The political prisoners freed by Honduran authorities are due to arrive in Panama today.

The armed hijackers released their hostages -- 43 passengers and six crew -- and gave themselves up after the Boeing 737 of the Honduran airline Sahsa touched down at Panama City airport Saturday night. The plane had been seized Friday on a flight from the Honduran capital, Tegucigalpa, to New O rleans.