Raúl Castro indictment brings back history of Cuba’s downing of U.S. civilian planes

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 coming. Subscribe to read this story ad-free Get unlimited access to ad-free articles and exclusive content.“I hope it’s justice for my dad and for the other three men. We have waited 30 years to the day,” said Marlene Alejandre, who attended the indictment’s announcement. She was 18 when her father, Armando Alejandre, was killed. The indictment of Castro, who will be 95 next month, and five other Cuban nationals brings to the forefront a three-decade-old incident that roiled the international community and continues to profoundly affect U.S.-Cuba relations to this day. Here’s a brief look at what took place then.Mirta Costa Méndez next to an image of her late brother, Carlos Costa, one of the men killed when the Brothers to the Rescue planes were shot down in 1996. Melisa Chantres, right, is his niece.Erika Angulo / NBC NewsThe civilian planes Cuba shot down belonged to Brothers to the Rescue, a group founded in 1991 by Cuban American pilot José Basulto and other U.S.-based Cuban exiles who were strongly opposed to the Cuban government. Basulto has said he participated in the botched Bay of Pigs invasion in 1961, which was sponsored by the CIA with the aim of ousting Fidel Castro.Brot...