The old Cubana de Aviación plane at the end of the runway at Key West International Airport has served many purposes since it was hijacked and brought here in 2003, and it could have one more use as it is far too old and in disrepair to ever fly again.
Capt. Joe Weatherby has set his sights on the aging Russian-made plane and said he has clients who are interested in sinking the plane as an artificial reef. Weatherby operates Reef Builders, which organized the 2011 sinking of the USNS Gen. Hoyt S. Vandenberg off Key West.
The Cuban plane would not be sunk locally, as the light-weight aluminum used to construct planes does not do well in salt water, Weatherby said.