Cuba Archive - Case 6386

Case ID: 6386

Title: N/A

First name: Reinaldo

Last name: Naranjo Leiva

Suffix: N/A

Aliases: Rey

Name also reported as: N/A

Age: 28

Gender: Male

Date of Birth: Day:7 / Month:2 / Year:1943

Civil Status: Unknown

Date of death/disappearance: Day:11 / Month:7 / Year:1971

Citizenship: N/A

Last known address: N/A

Last known city: N/A

Last known province-TOD: N/A

Last known province current: N/A

Last known country: Cuba

Location death-address: N/A

Location of death - city: N/A

Location of death province - at TOD: N/A

Location of death province - current: N/A

Location of death - country: Cuba

Trial held?: No

Docket Number: N/A

Sentence details: N/A

Arrest or detention at time of death: No

Date of arrest: N/A

Imprisoned/Detained: Location: N/A

How long imprisoned/detained: N/A

Death attributed to: Other

Death attribution detail: N/A

Associated Event: N/A

Case description:

Assistant Chief for Civil Aviation in Cienfuegos and Communist Party member killed during the thwarted hijacking attempt of a Cubana Airlines AN-24 CUT-878 flight from Boyeros to Cienfuegos, Cuba. 
According to ecured.cu, the official Cuban site, the hijacking was frustrated in flight by the head guard for the Havana airport, who was a passenger on the flight. He shot at the lead hijacker, injuring him in the arm, as he held a stewardess (while unarmed). His accomplice then threw a grenade towards the back of the plane and Reinaldo Naranjo, reportedly threw himself over the grenade, dying in the explosion. 
The two hijackers were gay writers enduring persecution in Cuba and sought to flee for the United States.  One had been imprisoned in a labor camp for three years for his homosexuality. They were executed around a year after the attempted hijacking. A friend, another writer, served 30 years of prison for knowing about the plan and another individual accused of being an accomplice served 20 years of prison.
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Asistente del Jefe de Aviación Civil en Cienfuegos y miembro del Partido Comunista que resultó muerto durante el frustrado intento de secuestro de un vuelo Cubana Airlines AN-24 CUT-878 de Boyeros a Cienfuegos, Cuba. Según ecured.cu, el sitio oficial cubano, el secuestro fue frustrado en vuelo por el jefe de guardia del aeropuerto de La Habana, que era uno de los pasajeros en el vuelo. Le disparó al secuestrador principal, hiriéndolo en el brazo, mientras sostenía a una azafata (aunque estaba desarmado). Su cómplice arrojó una granada hacia la parte trasera del avión y Reinaldo Naranjo, según los informes, se arrojó sobre la granada, muriendo en la explosión.
Los dos secuestradores eran escritores homosexuales que sufrían persecución en Cuba y buscaban huir a los Estados Unidos. Uno había sido encarcelado en un campo de trabajo forzado por tres años por su homosexualidad. Fueron ejecutados alrededor de un año después del intento de secuestro. Un amigo, otro escritor, cumplió 30 años de prisión por conocer el plan aunque no participó en el intento de secuestro y otra persona acusada de ser cómplice cumplió 20 años de prisión.

Sources: Conflict of Evidence:

Violation Status: Reported: Highly likely / Highly reliable source(s)

Cause of Death: - Other: killed by mines or bomb explosion

Occupations: - Military Specific Occupations

External Files: N/A

Relatives in Archive: N/A

Victim Type: - Armed Forces: military or militia

Affiliations: N/A

Other Victims Same Event: - Case 6567: Ángelo López Rabí - Case 6575: Nelson Rodríguez Leyva

Case Record - Reinaldo Naranjo Leiva