Reprinted from Caribbean Net News
caribbeannetnews.com

Plane stolen in Florida turns up in Cuba
10-05-2006

MIAMI, USA (AFP): US authorities are investigating the theft of a small plane that was found in Cuba, apparently stolen by a man with a minor, sources told AFP.

The 1972 Cessna owned by a New York pilot was reported stolen last week from Marathon airport in the Florida keys, and found in Cuba, Greg Artman, of the Monroe County sheriff's department said. Monroe has jurisdiction over the keys, the state's southernmost island chain.

The pilot "went to check his plane early Thursday and it was not there...we checked the tarmac in the airport and we couldn't find it," Artmen said. "On Saturday the State Department called our investigator and said the plane was in Cuba ... the plane turned up in Cuba, there was a pilot, an adult male with a young boy."

Judy Orihuela, an FBI spokeswoman, did not give the nationalities of those on board.

"The plane had mechanical problems, that's what they claimed, so that's where they ended up," Orihuela said. "We're working with the State Department to figure out what happened (but) they stole a plane which is a federal offense."