Recent days have seen a surge in social media discussions about possible U.S. Navy aircraft activity around Cuba, with users sharing flight tracking images and reports of unusual air traffic.
Those sharing these observations claim that some of these aircraft might have flown near the northern coast of the island and allegedly breached Cuban airspace.
The primary sources of these reports are profiles on platforms like X, which track open flight routes and radar observations, along with journalists sharing witness testimonies from within Cuba.
Social Media Reports on Aviation Activity
One active user documenting these occurrences is Cuban exile Joankelin Sánchez. He has shared several updates on X, detailing what he describes as U.S. Navy training flight routes near Cuba:
On January 12, he noted that Flightradar24 charted paths for two U.S. Navy training aircraft near Artemisa and later near Mayabeque-Matanzas, with only a few hours between flights.
"Images show two moments when Flightradar24 tracked U.S. Navy training aircraft routes near Cuba... with just hours apart this January 12... First route: near Artemisa... Second route: near Mayabeque-Matanzas," he wrote.
In another post, Sánchez described similar flight patterns on the same date:
"For the second time on January 12... Flightradar24 tracks U.S. Navy training aircraft routes near Cuban coasts. North of Matanzas... Earlier, the route was north of Artemisa."
Sánchez also noted multiple flights with similar paths in recent days:
"For the fourth time in the last five days; FRadar24 tracks a route near Cuba for U.S. Navy training aircraft... January 8 near northern Matanzas... January 9 near northern Havana... January 10 near northern Villa Clara... January 12 near northern Artemisa..."
These reports often include screenshots from open flight tracking platforms, showing aircraft labeled with identifiers consistent with U.S. military or training planes.
Witness Testimonies and Regional Tensions
Beyond radar data, users and journalists have shared eyewitness accounts from Cuba.
Univision journalist Mario Vallejo posted on Instagram:
"U.S. military aircraft enters Cuban airspace. Many witnesses confirm seeing it from Matanzas territory, while the regime remains completely silent on the issue."
Another journalist from the same outlet, Javier Díaz, remarked on social media:
"These aircraft carried out similar activities in Venezuela weeks before Maduro's capture. They could be gathering information on strategic areas of Cuba and assessing the regime's technological capabilities."
Such interpretations suggest that, according to some users, the flights might aim to collect information or evaluate technology, though no official confirmation exists.
More cautious observers urge against mixing hopes with realities and question whether these truly are military flights near Cuba.
So far, neither the Havana regime nor U.S. authorities have officially commented on these viral reports of alleged military flights near Cuba.
This situation highlights the increasing regional sensitivity regarding military presence and movements in the Caribbean, amid ongoing geopolitical tensions closely monitored by international observers.
Key Insights on Alleged U.S. Military Flights Near Cuba
What evidence is there of U.S. military flights near Cuba?
The evidence primarily consists of flight tracking data and reports from social media users and journalists, who claim to have observed unusual flight patterns and received eyewitness accounts.
Have U.S. or Cuban authorities commented on these reports?
As of now, neither the U.S. nor Cuban governments have officially responded to the reports of alleged military flights near Cuba.
What could be the purpose of these alleged flights?
Some speculate that the flights might be for information gathering or technical evaluation, although this has not been confirmed by any official sources.