MIAMI, United States. — David López Alfonso and Ismael Hernández Chirin, the two Cuban citizens who arrived in Key West last Saturday aboard a motorized hang gliderThey continue to be detained and under deportation proceedings, US authorities reported.
The announcement was made this Thursday by Walter N. Slosar, chief agent of the Border Patrol.
“Both individuals were interviewed, processed for deportation proceedings, and detained by ICE,” the officer said in his twitter account.
Slosar also pointed out that the aircraft used by the Cubans to escape from the island will be seized by federal authorities.
#Update: Both individuals were interviewed, processed for removal proceedings, and detained by ICE. The aircraft will be seized by federal authorities.
— Chief Patrol Agent Walter N. Slosar (@USBPChiefMIP) March 30, 2023
According to the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, the migrants landed at the Key West International Airport last Saturday around 10:30 a.m.
Both David and Ismael worked at the Playas del Este tourist hub in Havana. After their arrival in the United States, the Cuban Aviation Club denounced the event and demanded sanctions for both aviators, as well as “the return of the stolen equipment.”
“The Aviation Club of Cuba denounces this fact and transmits to the corresponding international authorities its disagreement with facts such as these and requests that the sanctions corresponding to the seriousness of the case and the return of the stolen equipment be applied to these individuals,” highlights the release issued by that entity and disseminated by the state press.
The motorized hang glider used by the pilots to escape from the island has registration CU-U 1619 and provided services to tourism, in the Air Sports modality.
The Cuban Aviation Club itself notified that the takeoff was carried out at 08:05 hours, from the north coast, in the Tarará Residential District.
Instead, the sister of one of the pilots warned of the risks they ran if they were returned to the island.
“If they return them, the problem they are going to look for has no word, it does not compare to anything. The problem that they are going to find is going to be gigantic, they will never be able to be anyone else in their lives,” the woman told the chain. Telemundo.
