Mailén Díaz Almaguer, the sole survivor of Cubana de Aviación Flight 972 that tragically crashed in Havana in 2018, shared a startling revelation in an interview with N+ Univision 23. She disclosed that neither she nor her husband had a ticket for the ill-fated flight heading to Holguín.
"We didn't have tickets, we figured it out right there at the airport," admitted the young woman, who was 19 years old at the time of the accident on May 18, when the Boeing 737-200 went down just 35 seconds after takeoff from José Martí Airport.
Mailén was traveling with her husband, Jean Michel López Salinas, whom she had married just two months earlier. He was among the 112 individuals who lost their lives that day.
The Unforeseen Twist of Fate
The randomness of their situation didn't end there. Mailén also recalled that shortly before the disaster, the flight was nearly canceled in favor of a bus alternative. "I do remember that at a certain point, the plane was not going to leave, they were going to send buses instead," she recounted.
This near-cancellation, which unfortunately did not occur, is one of the few memories she retains from that day. Her mind has completely blocked out the moments leading up to the crash. "I don't remember anything, not being inside the plane, not the takeoff, nothing," she told journalist Javier Díaz.
"I was told about it at Calixto García Hospital, they told me what had happened. They didn't tell me who I was with, because I didn't know either. I had such a mental block that I didn't remember anything or who I was flying with," she elaborated.
Continuing the Fight for Recovery
The interview portrays Mailén as someone who continues to battle the physical aftermath of the accident. "Currently, I undergo physiotherapy because of a spinal cord injury at the C6-C7 cervical level," she explained.
Besides physiotherapy, she requires a prosthesis, medical supplies, and a catheter. Javier Díaz shared her contact number (+53 5 6000284) for anyone willing to offer assistance.
Despite the injuries and traumas, Mailén has made strides few thought possible. Four years after the crash, she bravely boarded a plane again, confronting her fears: "That day, I broke through that barrier."
Spiritual Resilience and Demand for Accountability
On a spiritual level, Mailén found solace in Christianity after the tragedy, which has been a source of strength for her. When asked what she would say to her late husband, she replied, "That I found Christ, that he didn't know because I didn't know Christ before, and that I've managed to cope. I truly would have needed him, honestly."
The official investigation concluded that the crash was likely due to a series of human errors. The crew failed to account for last-minute changes in passengers, luggage, and fuel when calculating the aircraft's weight and balance, leading to an unsafe center of gravity. The Boeing 737-200 was operated by the Mexican airline Global Air under a contract with Cubana de Aviación.
Mailén continues to demand justice: "Those responsible for the mistakes that caused so many families to suffer must be held accountable."
In March 2026, a federal judge in Mexico ordered Global Air to pay roughly $7.1 million to the families of four deceased Mexican crew members, marking the first firm civil ruling in the case. However, this does not extend to the families of Cuban passengers or Mailén herself.
Furthermore, the airline has been in bankruptcy proceedings since 2024, and the Cuban regime has not provided the requested documents to the Mexican prosecutor's office to advance the criminal investigation.
Understanding the 2018 Cubana de Aviación Crash
What caused the Cubana de Aviación Flight 972 crash?
The crash was primarily attributed to a series of human errors where the crew failed to incorporate last-minute changes in passengers, luggage, and fuel into the calculations for the plane's weight and balance, leading to an unsafe center of gravity.
Has Global Air compensated the victims' families?
In March 2026, a Mexican judge ordered Global Air to compensate the families of four Mexican crew members with approximately $7.1 million. However, this ruling does not cover the families of the Cuban passengers or Mailén Díaz Almaguer.
What support does Mailén Díaz Almaguer need?
Mailén requires physiotherapy, a prosthesis, medical supplies, and a catheter. She is also open to assistance from anyone willing to help with her recovery.