Cuban authorities have confirmed 110 of 113 people died in the crash of a 40-year-old Boeing 737-201 in Havana, Cuba Friday. The aircraft, operated by Cubana, crashed shortly after takeoff from Havana’s Jose Mart Airport. There were 104 passengers and nine crew members onboard Flight DMJ 0972, which was heading to Holguin, Cuba. There has been no comment about a potential cause but most of the focus has been on the age of the airliner, which was originally delivered to Piedmont Airlines in 1979. The aircraft had passed through five owners before becoming one of three ancient airliners operated by Mexico-based Global Air.
The plane was wet leased by Cubana from Global so the crew was all Mexican. Witnesses reported seeing a fireball shortly after the aircraft went down about 12 miles south of Havana near the village of Santiago de las Vegas. There was a significant post-crash fire. Cubana has reportedly taken several of its planes out of service in recent months due to mechanical issues. Officials say the U.S. trade embargo against Cuba limits the availability of spare parts and makes it difficult for the airline to operate a modern fleet of its own so it’s forced to outsource the aircraft operations.
