Evening star., 1961-07-26
Victims Return to Miomi From Cubo,
Tell How Gunmon Hiiocked AirIiner

Freed by Fidel Castro, 80 pas
sengers and five crewmen Of
a hijacked American airliner
flew back from Cuba yesterday
and planned to resume their
interrupted trips today. They
gave interesting accounts Of
how a gunman seized control of
the plane over Florida and
forced it into Havana.
One Of the passengers on the
Eastern Air Lines Electra when
it took off from Miami Mon
day for Tampa, New Orleans
and Dallas remained in Cuba.
This passenger. the hijacker.
was identified today by the FBI
as Wilfred Roman Oquendo, SO,
who had boarded the plane
under the alias j. Marin.
Watch Kept on Planes
In New York, meanwhile, FBI
agents and police kept a close
watch on Florida bound plane
passengers to prevent any fur
ther hijackings.
The surveillance agents care
fully checked passenger lists at
Idlewild Airport for all flights
bound for Miami and other
Florida cities. Passengers were
observed closely as they checked
in at boarding gates.
The flights being watched
were those of Eastern Air
Lines, Northeast Airlines and
National Airlines.
New York police posted spe-
cial details to avert possible
clashes between Cuban groups
on the eighth anniversary Of
Premier Fidel Castro's 26th of
July movement.
One of the places under sur
veillance was the Casa Cuba
Club on Columbus avenue
where a plot repeatedly was
Matched Sunday night for seiz-
ing five United States airliners
and flying them to Cuba.
Happy to be Home
The passengers and crew
members of the airliner hi
lacked Monday were happy to
be home without being delayed
by the 26th of July celebrations
in Cuba.
Some were able to quip about
the overnight trip to Havana
as captiveS of the gunman in
the cockpit, then of the Castro
regime.
Il was bound for New Orleans
yesterday when the plane was
hijacked), said Al Lanken, 40,
of North Miami Beach, who
distributes film for TVS Peter
Gum" show and others.
Now I think I'll make an
Atlanta trip" he chuckled.
There's probably no hijacking
planes bound in that direction
unless someone is looking for
a free trip to Red China"
Treated CiviIIy
George NathanSon, Miami
lawyer. said the hijacking put
a crimp in his business timer
ary, too. Mr.. NathanSon was
bound for Tampa. He said he'd
probably wait now until late in
the week.
But I'll continue to fly" he
said. He said Premier Castro's
men treated us very civilly-
except for keeping us in the
first place"
The hijacking also changed
the plans of Luis Rodriguez,
high-ranked welterweight box
ing contender. who was en-
route to New Orleans for a
fight there tomorrow night
with Curtis Cokes.
Rodriguez'S manager, Ernesto
CorraleS. said through an in
terpreter that the fight is post
poned-perhaps until a week
from tomorrow. Rodriguez S
trainer, Luis Sarria, would be
unable to put finishing touches
on the fighters training due to
the hijacking interruption
newsmen were told. Corrales
and Sarria were with Rodriguez
on the Eastern airliner.
Mrs. Don Anderson of Miami
said she hoped to start again
today for the Pacific Coast
where she planned to visit hel
parents, Mr.. and Mrs. A. R.
Diesel of San Bernardino.
Barged Into Cockpit
The slender, Manufactured
hijacker was seen only briefly
by the other passengers as he
was led away from the airliner
LOST
BAG, blue canvass, airport n. terminal
containing baby books, sentimental