Havana 'hijack' headache for US

MIAMI (AP) - Nearly 50 Cubans who fled to Miami aboard a commandeered airliner were released to jubilant relatives and friends while United States officials took up the tricky legal questions raised by the flight.

The main issue is whether Tuesday's defection constitutes a hijacking. If so, the US risks violating international law if it gives the Cubans asylum.

The plane was on a flight from Havana to a Cuban resort with 53 people aboard when the pilot and passengers drugged a government security guard, overpowered the co-pilot and steered the twin-engine turboprop to Miami.