Boeing 737 accident near Havana, Cu, May 18, 2018
On May 18, 2018 at about 4:11 pm local time, a Boeing 737, registered XAUHZ, was destroyed in an accident during takeoff near Havana (Havana-José Martí Internationa airport). It was flown under non-U.S. commercial rules. 112 people were killed and 1 person was seriously injured.
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 18, 2018 · about 4:11 pm local time
- Place
- Havana, Cuba · Havana-José Martí Internationa
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 112 people were killed and 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- not recorded
- Aircraft
- Boeing 737 200 · all 737s on the register
- Registration
- XAUHZ · no longer on the register
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Flight · non-U.S. commercial rules
The NTSB's narrative preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record
The government of Cuba has notified the NTSB of an accident involving a Boeing 737-200 that occurred on May 18, 2018. The NTSB has appointed a U.S. Accredited Representative to assist the government of Cuba's investigation under the provisions of ICAO Annex 13 as the State of Manufacture of the airplane.All investigative information will be released by the government of Cuba.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Unknown or undetermined during takeoff defining event
The aircraft
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Pratt & Whitney JT8D-9A (turbofan); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: MUHA Havana
- Destination: MUHG Holguín
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cabi | 4 | |||
| Flight crew | 2 | |||
| Passengers | 106 | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The NTSB has not released the docket for this case yet. The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), is usually released when the investigation is nearly complete, and the list here is refreshed when it appears. Check at the NTSB.
Other NTSB records under XAUHZ the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.