Florida reopens investigation of Raúl Castro for Brothers to the Rescue shootdown

Sofia Saric, Miami Herald on Mar 4, 2026

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MIAMI — Florida has reopened its criminal investigation into Raúl Castro over the 1996 shoot-down of two planes belonging to Brothers to the Rescue, a Miami-based volunteer group, Attorney General James Uthmeier said Wednesday.

Thirty years ago, Cuban MiG fighters shot down two single-engine planes belonging to Brothers to the Rescue and killed three Americans and one permanent resident, according to the Miami Herald archives. At the time, Cuban dictator Fidel Castro said “we gave the order” to shoot them down after he conferred with Raúl, his brother and then defense minister.

The state of Florida was investigating Raúl Castro several years ago for possible crimes, but the Biden Administration shut it down, Uthmeier said during a livestreamed press conference, adding “we’ve got a great working relationship with the federal government now.”

State legislators and others in Florida want to see some resolution and “ideally accountability” for the attack on Feb. 24, 1996, he said. Uthmeier confirmed the reopened criminal investigation after a journalist asked about possible new details in the case reported by the Florida Phoenix.

“...(W)here there are wrongs to Florida citizens, both under state and federal laws, they need to be held accountable,” Uthmeier said. “So, I can’t really say too much more at this point, but we are gonna continue that investigation.”

Two Cuban fighter pilots and a commanding Cuban Air Force general were previously indicted in connection with the murders of the four volunteers, and over the years, groups have pushed for an indictment of the Castros, too.

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(Miami Herald Staff Writer Claire Heddles contributed to this report.)

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