Federal prosecutors announced on May 20, 2026, that former Cuban President Raúl Castro has been indicted in connection with the 1996 downing of civilian planes operated by the Miami-based exile group Brothers to the Rescue. The charges include murder and destruction of aircraft, and five Cuban military pilots were also charged [1][2].
The indictment, which was secretly filed by a grand jury in April, was unsealed at a ceremony in Miami coinciding with Cuban Independence Day [2][3]. The superseding indictment charges Raúl Castro and five co-defendants with conspiracy to kill U.S. nationals, two counts of destruction of aircraft, and four counts of murder [3][4].
Raúl Castro, who was Cuba’s defense minister at the time of the incident, is now 94 years old and will turn 95 next month [1][4]. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche stated that the U.S. often indicts individuals outside the country and expects Castro to face the charges either voluntarily or by other means [1][4].
The charges are part of a broader strategy by the Trump administration to escalate pressure on Cuba, which includes an economic blockade, sanctions, and threats of military action [1][4]. President Miguel Díaz-Canel of Cuba defended the shootdown as legitimate self-defense and criticized the indictment as a politically motivated maneuver lacking legal foundation [1][4].
The indictment follows the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, a longtime ally of Cuba, by U.S. forces, amid broader efforts to promote regime change in Cuba [1][4].
What Is Known
The indictment charges Raúl Castro and five Cuban military pilots with multiple counts related to the 1996 plane shootdown [1][3]. The charges were unsealed in Miami on Cuban Independence Day [2][3]. The U.S. government views this as part of a larger campaign against the Cuban government [1][4].
What Remains Unclear
It remains uncertain whether Raúl Castro will appear in a U.S. courtroom to face the charges [1].
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