Surprise Restriction For Cuban-Born Flight Crew Members
Follow CBSMIAMI.COM: Facebook | Twitter
MIAMI (CBSMiami) -- The Cuban government says they will not allow Cuban-born flight crew members into the country without a valid Cuban passport.
Typically countries do not view flight crew staying overnight as passengers, meaning they do not have the same credential requirement as them.
That's apparently not the case in Cuba. The island nation considers flight crew to be the same as passengers, meaning they are subject to Cuba's passport regulations, according to CBS News.
As such, Cuban officials say if a crew member was born in Cuba then they need to have a valid Cuban passport to enter the island nation.
While most U.S. flights serving Cuba currently do not have crew that stay overnight on the island, one American Airlines flight does.
On a recent flight, the Cuban policy became an issue when one of the crew members was Cuban-born but did not have a valid Cuban passport. The company said the Cuban government made an exception that time but made sure to reiterate they would not allow Cuban-born flight crew into the country if they did not have a valid Cuban passport.
Since that incident, American Airlines says they are now making sure crews on their flights from Miami International Airport to Varadero, Cuba comply with the law.
Click here to read more about U.S.- Cuba Relations.