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

Cuba shot down two Brothers to the Rescue U.S. civilian planes in 1996, killing four Cuban Americans and drawing swift condemnation from the U.S. and the international community.

MIAMI — 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.

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“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.