Raúl Castro indictment brings back history of Cuba’s downing of U.S. civilian planes
The indictment of former Cuban President Raúl Castro has reignited discussions surrounding the 1996 downing of two Brothers to the Rescue planes, which resulted in the deaths of four Cuban Americans. Families of the victims expressed hope that this legal action will bring justice after three decades of waiting. The incident remains a significant point of tension in U.S.-Cuba relations.
- ▪Raúl Castro and five other Cuban nationals were indicted in connection with the downing of civilian planes in 1996.
- ▪The planes belonged to Brothers to the Rescue, a group formed by Cuban American exiles to assist those fleeing Cuba.
- ▪Cuba claimed the planes violated its airspace, while international bodies concluded they were shot down in international airspace.
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U.S. newsRaúl Castro indictment brings back history of Cuba’s downing of U.S. civilian planesThree decades ago, Cuba shot down two Brothers to the Rescue planes, killing four Cuban Americans and drawing swift condemnation from the U.S. and the international community.Listen to this article with a free account00:0000:00Boats from a flotilla head for open waters off Key West, Fla., on March 2, 1996, carrying Cuban Americans to the site of the downing of two Brothers to the Rescue planes by Cuban fighters.Rick Bowmer / AP fileShareAdd NBC News to GoogleMay 20, 2026, 5:54 PM EDTBy Carmen SesinMIAMI — Families of four Cuban exiles who were killed in 1996 when the Cuban military shot down their civilian planes said Wednesday’s indictment of former Cuban President Raúl Castro was a long time…
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