The person at the center of this case
Passengers and crew of Eastern Airlines Flight 161
Cold Case · Open
45 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.
Start here
Key leads to think about
🎯
suspect
Lead #1What is Jose Espinosa Caballero's current location and status? Did he remain in Cuba or flee to another country?
🔍
evidence
Lead #2What was the actual contents of the bottle he displayed during the hijacking? Was it truly a dangerous substance or a bluff?
👁️
witness
Lead #3Were there any crew members or passengers who could identify Caballero and provide additional details about his behavior and statements?
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, making this case a significant piece of aviation security history that warrants continued investigation.
Case
#674
Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI); U.S. District Court, Eastern District of New York
Try asking
Claim this imported case
A one-time $10 claim transfers this imported case workspace to your account. You get 10 uploads for this case, 25 daily AI questions for this case, and public tips with files route to you.
10 uploads25 AI questions/day
This does not start a subscription. When the included limits are reached, the Personal plan unlocks more workspace capacity.
More leads to consider
Beyond the top three above — each detail below could be the thread that pulls this case open.
💡
clue
Lead #4Has Caballero been located in Cuba or elsewhere, and why has the case remained unresolved for over 40 years?
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 instead of Tampa
📍
1980-09-08
Aircraft Landing in Havana
After making his demands, Caballero retreated to the rear bathroom and remained there until the plane landed in Havana, Cuba
🕵️
1985-06-10
Federal Arrest Warrant Issued
A federal arrest warrant was issued in U.S. 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:April 29, 2026
Leave a comment
Comments
Case Information
Incident:September 8, 1980
Last Updated:April 29, 2026