Skyjack to Cuba

There have been a lot of airline hijackings from the United States to Cuba, but apparently no one is counting. Shouldn't something be done about it? Since American crime in the streets has now risen to a higher level and become airborne, Americans seem to be developing a certain tolerance for it. Maybe it is because travelers think they might get on television.

So far, Washington hasn't come up with any workable suggestions. It may be the administration considers hijacking one of those sectors reserved for private enterprise to deal with.

Does this mean hijacking is here to stay if there is some way it could be made to show a profit?

Considering the forthright way big business deals with things, one possible solution from the private sector is to expand Disney World. A small island, shaped like Cuba, could be built off the coast of Florida. Instead of all those hijacked airplanes landing in Havana, full of people with travel money, the hijacker could be tricked into landing at a duplicate place which would be more fun. It would be an easy switch, since there is no great problem making airports look alike.

Once landed, Spanish-speaking FBI agents could board the plane dressed whimsically as Cuban officials, arrest the confused hijacker in a jovial, courteous manner and not jeopardize his rights.

After this is done, an actor playing the part of Castro could be on hand to extend a cordial welcome to everyone and invite them all to take a fun-tour of Havanaland. Peter Ustinov, or someone not too terrifying in a beard, might be persuaded to play the part.

On the good chance that a lot of these hijackers are either Cuban agents or have a Tinkertoy mentality, television coverage would have to be discouraged. Fidel Castro watches it.

But the government will probably be the one to solve it, and in some boring, inefficient manner such as offering free one-way tickets to Cuba via Mexico City. That way, Washington would know anyone taking the hijack route was a Cuban agent for sure.