Havana, Cuba (CNN) -- Should William Potts, an American fugitive living in Cuba, ever set foot in the United States again, he faces an indictment for airplane hijacking and a potentially lengthy prison term. So why is Potts now battling to return to the same country that wants to imprison him? In 1984, Potts hijacked a Piedmont Airlines passenger plane bound for Miami with 56 people aboard. A Black Panther and self-styled revolutionary, Potts dreamed of receiving military training in Cuba that he could use to overthrow the United States government. But first, the New York native had to find a way to get to the island.
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William Potts hijacked a plane to Havana in 1984
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He was surprised to face trial and be sentenced to 15 years in Cuban prison
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His daughters are now living in U.S., but Potts continues to fight to join them
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Potts says he realizes that violence is not the way to bring about change
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After the plane took off, Potts went to bathroom, where he ditched the phony cast and put on what he calls his "@placeholder costume" of dark clothes and combat boots.
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After years of hijackings to the island, the @placeholder put hijackers like him on trial.