US man pleads not guilty in 1968 hijacking

AFP

New York: A US man who fled to Cuba 41 years ago pleaded not guilty on Tuesday to allegedly hijacking a New York airliner, after voluntarily returning to the United States to face trial last week.

Luis Armando Pena Soltren, 66, pleaded not guilty in a federal court to charges of conspiracy to commit air piracy and kidnapping, interference with flight crew members, aircraft piracy, and kidnapping, and remained in custody.

If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of life in prison.

He is accused of hijacking Pan Am flight 281 out of New York on November 24, 1968, and diverting the Puerto Rico-bound plane to Havana.