The person at the center of this case
Passengers and crew of Eastern Airlines Flight 161
Cold Case · Open
46 years waiting · since 1980
JOSE ESPINOSA CABALLERO
Justice for Passengers and crew of Eastern Airlines Flight 161 — the trail went cold in 1980, but the truth hasn't.
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Key leads to think about
🎯
suspect
Lead #1What is Jose Espinosa Caballero's current location and status—is he still alive and in Cuba?
🔍
evidence
Lead #2What was the actual contents of the bottle displayed during the hijacking, and was it ever analyzed?
👁️
witness
Lead #3Were there crew members or passengers who could identify Caballero and provide details about his behavior during the incident?
On September 8, 1980, Jose Espinosa Caballero allegedly hijacked Eastern Airlines Flight 161 en route from New York to Tampa, Florida, by displaying a bottle with liquid and a lighter while demanding to be flown to Cuba. After making his demands, he retreated to the rear bathroom and remained there until the aircraft landed in Havana. A federal arrest warrant was issued in 1985, but Caballero's current whereabouts and status remain unknown.
Case
#674
Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI); United States District Court, Eastern District of New York
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More leads to consider
Beyond the top three above — each detail below could be the thread that pulls this case open.
💡
clue
Lead #4How did Caballero board the aircraft with a lighter and bottle—what security measures were in place in 1980?
Have information about any of these leads?
Even the smallest detail could be the key to solving this case.
Official wording
Source Narrative
Crime Aboard an Aircraft - Aircraft Piracy Caution: Jose Espinosa Caballero is wanted for his alleged involvement in the September 8, 1980, hijacking of Eastern Airlines Flight 161 while it was en route from New York to Tampa, Florida. During the flight, Caballero is alleged to have displayed a bottle with a liquid in it and a lighter and indicated that he wanted to be flown to Cuba.
After making his demands, Caballero retreated to the bathroom at the rear of the plane and remained there until the plane landed in Havana, Cuba. A federal arrest warrant was issued for Caballero in the United States District Court, Eastern District of New York, on June 10, 1985, after he was charged with aircraft piracy.
Timeline of Events
👤
1980-09-08
Eastern Airlines Flight 161 Hijacking
Jose Espinosa Caballero allegedly displayed a bottle with liquid and a lighter, demanding the aircraft be flown to Cuba. He retreated to the rear bathroom and remained there until landing.
🕵️
1985-06-10
Federal Arrest Warrant Issued
A federal arrest warrant was issued in the United States District Court, Eastern District of New York, charging Caballero with aircraft piracy.
Key Locations
Interactive map showing important locations related to this case
Case Information
Incident:September 8, 1980
Last Updated:October 29, 2026
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Case Information
Incident:September 8, 1980
Last Updated:October 29, 2026