The story of the 1996 shootdown that could lead to Raúl Castro's indictment
Summary
In 1996, two civilian planes from a Cuban exile group were shot down by a Cuban fighter jet, killing four people. Thirty years later, the U.S. is considering charging Raúl Castro, Cuba’s former leader, in connection with this incident.Key Facts
- In 1996, three small civilian planes flew from Miami towards Cuba, operated by the group Brothers to the Rescue.
- Two of these planes were shot down by a Cuban MiG-29 fighter jet, killing four people onboard.
- Brothers to the Rescue searched for Cuban refugees at sea and supported opponents of the Cuban government.
- The Cuban government accused the group of entering its airspace illegally and doing hostile acts like dropping leaflets.
- Raúl Castro led Cuba after his brother Fidel retired and is now 94 years old.
- The U.S. is preparing a possible criminal case against Raúl Castro due to the shootdown.
- The incident increased tensions between the U.S. and Cuba and marked a new phase in their complicated relationship.
- One plane with José Basulto, the group’s founder, and three others returned safely to Florida.
Read the Full Article
This is a fact-based summary from The Actual News. Click below to read the complete story directly from the original source.