The Cuban people paid tribute to the dozens of people killed at the hands of the anti-Cuban mafia in conjunction with U.S. forces, on October 6, 1976 on the Cubana de Aviación plane. Photo: Prensa Latina.
Commemorative events in Havana, other cities, and Venezuela honoured the 73 people killed in the sabotage against a Cuban civilian plane in 1976.
On October 6, Cuba held various commemorative events for the 49th anniversary of the attack on a Cubana de Aviación plane which occurred in 1976 off the coast of Barbados.
The main ceremony took place at the Colón Necropolis in Havana, where relatives of the victims, government representatives, and young people and students paid tribute to the deceased.
During the ceremony, floral offerings were placed on behalf of the people of Cuba and its president, Miguel Díaz-Canel. Present were authorities of the Communist Party, relatives of the victims, and athletes who spoke about the members of the national fencing team, 24 of whom died in the attack.
The speeches recalled the historical significance of the event and mentioned that the crime was organized by terrorist groups of Cuban origin with support from the US.
The authorities reaffirmed the demand for justice and the need to keep alive the memory of the events of 1976. According to historical records, the Cubana de Aviación aircraft exploded in mid-flight on October 6 of that year, killing 73 people
The perpetrators were arrested in Venezuela, while the main organizers, Orlando Bosch and Luis Posada Carriles, fled to live in the United States. October 6 is officially recognized in Cuba as the Day of the Victims of State Terrorism.
Every year, commemorative activities are held to remember those who lost their lives in the attack and other victims of terrorism against the country. In Venezuela, acts of remembrance were also held. In the state of La Guaira, Governor José Alejandro Terán led a ceremony with the Cuban ambassador, Dagoberto Rodríguez, in which tribute was paid to the victims, and the historical ties between the two countries were reaffirmed.
#FidelPorSiempre: "No podemos decir que el dolor se comparte. ¡El dolor se multiplica! Millones de cubanos lloramos hoy junto a los seres queridos de las víctimas del abominable crimen. ¡Y cuando un pueblo enérgico y viril llora, la injusticia tiembla!".#100AñosConFidel pic.twitter.com/yFYK4KwgLM
— Manuel Marrero Cruz (@MMarreroCruz) October 6, 2025
Various social and diplomatic organizations participated in the tribute activities, which were extended to other Cuban provinces. In schools and workplaces, meetings, exhibitions, and cultural events dedicated to the victims of the attack were held.
