Florida Targets Raúl Castro: 1996 Plane Shootdown Probe Reopened

Florida officials are turning up the heat on 94-year-old former Cuban leader Raúl Castro. On March 4, 2026, Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier announced the state is officially reviving a criminal investigation into the 1996 shootdown of two civilian planes operated by the exile group Brothers to the Rescue.

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The Investigation at a Glance

• The Focus: Determining Raúl Castro’s personal liability as then-Minister of Defense in ordering the lethal strike.
• The Catalyst: Florida officials claim a previous lack of federal “political will” stalled the case, but a new alignment between state and federal authorities has cleared the path.
• The Evidence: Prosecutors are revisiting 30-year-old audio logs and interviews, including a 1996 Time magazine piece where the Castro brothers reportedly admitted to authorizing the use of force.

The Incident: February 24, 1996

Three decades ago, Cuban MiG fighters intercepted three unarmed Cessnas over international waters. The group, which searched for Cuban rafters at sea, saw two of its planes destroyed by air-to-air missiles. The attack killed four Florida residents: Armando Alejandre Jr., Carlos Costa, Mario de la Peña, and Pablo Morales.

Why Now?

The timing is both symbolic and strategic:

1. 30th Anniversary: The move follows the recent 30-year commemoration of the tragedy.
2. Legal Pressure: Florida lawmakers, including Sen. Rick Scott and Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar, have been aggressively lobbying the U.S. Justice Department for a formal indictment.
3. Regional Precedent: Florida leadership cited the recent U.S. pursuit of other authoritarian leaders (like Nicolás Maduro) as proof that “no one is out of reach.”

“Justice has no expiration date. We are sending a clear message that if you kill Floridians, we will hunt you until your last breath.” — Summary of the sentiment shared by Florida leadership during the announcement.