“… [A] Cuban passenger airliner was high jacked to Florida during a trip between destinations on the island. Thirty-seven persons, including six high jackers, arrived in the aircraft at Key West International airport on March 19 [2003]. The six high jackers will be prosecuted in the United States. Many passengers on the plane have returned to Cuba, but some have opted to apply for asylum in the United States…The Cuban government has said the U.S. decision to prosecute the high jackers is ‘a modest step forward,’ but has decried the decision to not return the aircraft and continues to denounce the U.S. policy that allows Cubans who reach American soil to apply for asylum in the United States.”
“Embargo Update: Overview of Recent Developments,” HavanaJournal.com, April 1, 2003