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title: U.S. indicts former Cuban President Raúl Castro over 1996 downing of planes | TIME
description: The Trump Administration formally charged Cuba’s former President Raúl Castro for his alleged role in shooting down two civilian aircraft over international waters three decades ago, in an apparent escalation of pressure on Cuba’s government. 
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* U.S.

# U.S. indicts former Cuban President Raúl Castro over 1996 downing of planes

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<!-- video src="https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/83EdGByt.m3u8" -->
## Video: U.S. indicts former Cuban President Raúl Castro over 1996 downing of planes

[Watch (HLS stream): U.S. indicts former Cuban President Raúl Castro over 1996 downing of planes](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/83EdGByt.m3u8) (1:30)

![U.S. indicts former Cuban President Raúl Castro over 1996 downing of planes](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/v2/media/83EdGByt/poster.jpg?width=720)

_Published 2026-05-21. The Trump Administration formally charged Cuba’s former President Raúl Castro for his alleged role in shooting down two civilian aircraft over international waters three decades ago, in an apparent escalation of pressure on Cuba’s government._


---

May 21, 2026 5:03 PM UTC

---

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---


## Transcript

Today we are announcing an indictment charging Raul Castro and several others with conspiracy to kill U.S. nationals. This, Mr. Castro and the others are charged with additional crimes as well, including destruction of aircraft and four individual counts of murder. The indictment was returned by a grand jury sitting in this district in Miami on April 23rd, 2026, and was unsealed today. For nearly 30 years, 30 years, the families of four murdered Americans have waited for justice. They were unarmed civilians and were flying humanitarian missions for the rescue and protection of people fleeing oppression across the Florida Straits.

As alleged in the indictment, Raul Castro and five co-defendants participated in a conspiracy that ended with Cuban military aircraft firing missiles at those civilian planes and killing four Americans. Those are the allegations returned by a federal grand jury. My message today is clear. The United States and President Trump does not and will not forget its citizens.

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