Judge who freed Cuban plane hijacker dies suddenly days after controversial ruling
By Alex Diaz and Isabel Vincent
Published July 16, 2026, 6:23 p.m. ET
A Clinton-appointed federal judge in Florida has died just days after he controversially released a Cuban plane hijacker who was awaiting deportation.
The death of Judge John E. Steele, 77, was confirmed by a legal source in Miami as well as a law clerk for Chief Judge Marcia Morales Howard of the Middle District of Florida, where Steele served.
Clinton-appointed federal judge John E. Steele in Florida has died just days after he controversially released a Cuban plane hijacker who was awaiting deportation. He was 77.
The circumstances were not immediately clear.
Steele came under criticism for his July 8 ruling to release Cuban plane hijacker Maikel Guerra Morales from ICE custody.
Guerra Morales took over a Cuban commuter plane in 2003 and forced the crew to land at Key West International Airport.
He spent more than 20 years in prison for aircraft piracy and conspiracy to interfere with a flight crew.
https://nypost.com/2026/07/16/us-news/judge-who-freed-cuban-plane-hijacker-dies-suddenly-days-after-controversial-ruling/
