A Cuban man, formerly convicted of hijacking an aircraft to the United States back in 2003, is now free after a federal judge mandated his release from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody. This individual had subjected a flight crew to a harrowing ordeal during an incident that led to the plane landing in Florida.
Miakel Guerra Morales, who spent approximately two decades in a federal prison for orchestrating the hijacking, had been detained by immigration authorities since December as they awaited his deportation.
However, on July 8th, U.S. District Judge John E. Steele determined that Morales should no longer be detained, despite the ongoing proceedings to remove him from the country.
A 2009 magistrate judge’s report shed light on the violent actions taken by Morales and his accomplices during the hijacking. Armed with the plane’s emergency axes and several knives, the hijackers effectively took control of the cockpit and intimidated the crew and passengers. On several occasions, knives were held at the throats of crew members and passengers alike.
The report further detailed Morales as one of the key instigators, describing how he, alongside another individual, allegedly forced a steward to the cabin floor. There, they reportedly held a knife to his throat while tying his hands behind his back with a cord.
During the chaos, the flight technician grabbed an axe to fight back, but reportedly stopped when he heard shouting from the passenger cabin that the hijackers had taken children hostage.
BREAKING: Clinton-appointed Judge John E. Steele, just released Cuban national hijacker Miakel Guerra Morales back onto the streets. Morales served 20 years in prison for hijacking a plane to Florida pic.twitter.com/3pHB3nFBq9
— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) July 14, 2026