Charges Possible for Cuban Escape Pilot : Freedom: U.S. ponders action in flight of 48 defectors to the United States. Flier says even if he goes to prison, the risk for his family was worth it.

A Cuban pilot who flew his commercial airliner to freedom recounted Thursday how he secretly gathered up relatives and friends, fooled air controllers and talked his way to the United States.

But 47-year-old Carlos Cancio Porcel still has a problem--U.S. officials are considering filing hijacking charges.

Cancio said that, even if he goes to prison in the United States, the flight would be worth it because his wife, children and other relatives were among the 48 defectors on the plane.

“Just knowing that my family is all right is enough--the family is above everything,” the red-eyed, exhausted pilot told reporters.

The Cuban American National Foundation has hired a lawyer to represent Cancio and any others who might face charges, said the group’s chairman, Jorge Mas Canosa.

Cancio said he first began thinking about defecting about a year ago. The hardest part, he said, was broaching the possibility to others.

“Even if he’s against the government, he might tell on you to make sure you are not an agent,” Cancio said.

The basic conspiracy included the crew and their family and friends. The would-be defectors used the code word party to refer to the escape. For example, “We have no beer to have a party” meant the flight was postponed.

On Tuesday, Cancio was to fly his empty Aero Caribbean twin-engine turboprop to the Varadero Beach resort to pick up a load of tourists. He used the opportunity to set the escape in motion.

He said he desperately wanted to bid farewell to his parents.

“My mother suffers from heart disease, and I was afraid to say goodby,” Cancio said.

Usually, Cubans are not allowed on the Varadero Beach flight. But because fuel is in short supply, the government is now allowing them to use the planes, he noted.

“Through the grace of God,” Cancio got his group onto the plane, telling airport personnel and the co-pilot--who was not in on the plot--they were heading to beach houses for the holidays. The eager co-pilot brought along his own wife and daughter.

Once in the air, Cancio invented excuses to move north of his assigned route. He told the tower he had spotted bad weather.

On Tuesday, Cancio had told reporters the co-pilot eventually was lured back into the passenger cabin and restrained.

“There was no violence whatsoever in the whole trip,” he insisted Thursday. “The co-captain was in the back of the plane with his daughter on his lap.”

Foundation officials interrupted Cancio to prevent him from discussing the security guard, who reportedly was drugged and handcuffed in the rear of the plane. Foundation President Pepe Hernandez noted that Cancio still faces possible criminal charges.

As the flight continued, Cancio said, he began radioing false positions to Cuban air controllers.

Finally he claimed a man with a gun was holding two children hostage and demanding to go to Miami.

His jubilation at landing in Florida was tempered by fear the Cuban government may retaliate against relatives who still live there.