Three decades after the downing of planes from the Brothers to the Rescue mission, the Cuban exile community in Miami is once again urging a longstanding demand that has strained Cuba-U.S. relations: prosecuting Raúl Castro for the murder of four crew members.
During a commemorative event in South Florida, several Cuban-American lawmakers joined the victims' families to honor the tragic incident of February 24, 1996. On that day, two civilian Cessna aircraft were shot down by Cuban fighter jets during a humanitarian mission over the Florida Straits.
The victims included Mario de la Peña (24), Carlos Costa (30), Armando Alejandre Jr. (45)—all U.S. citizens—and Pablo Morales (30), a U.S. permanent resident. Tragically, their bodies were never recovered.
Miriam and Mario, the parents of Mario de la Peña, recount that their son was a volunteer pilot with "Brothers to the Rescue," participating in humanitarian missions to locate Cuban rafters risking their lives for a chance at freedom.
"He was a very friendly young man with a noble character," his father shared with WSVN.
However, the mission ended in tragedy. A chilling Cuban military audio recording captured the moment of the attack.
"First shot! We got him, damn it! We got him!" a Cuban military officer exclaimed in Spanish.
"We've been living with this for 30 years, seeking justice," Miriam expressed emotionally.
Meanwhile, lawmakers argue there is substantial evidence implicating General Raúl Castro, then the Minister of the Armed Forces, in ordering the attack.
"We've asked the Administration, the President, and the U.S. Attorney General to review the facts and, upon finding—as we believe they will—the evidence, to indict the person responsible for the cold-blooded murder of these individuals," stated Mario Díaz Balart, as reported by Telemundo 51.
"It is time to hold Raúl Castro accountable," wrote Congresswoman María Elvira Salazar on X, asserting that the four Americans were "deliberately murdered in international airspace by the Cuban regime."
Echoing this sentiment, Congressman Carlos A. Giménez declared their demand for "the indictment of dictator Raúl Castro," describing it as a struggle for "freedom and justice."
The pressure mounts amid renewed tensions between Washington and Havana, with exile leaders believing that under Donald Trump's administration, there is political will to rekindle a case long seen as an unresolved issue.
For the victims' families, the commemoration was not merely symbolic but a poignant reminder that, after three decades, they still await justice for a tragedy that left a deep wound in South Florida's Cuban community.
Understanding the Push for Justice Against Raúl Castro
What incident sparked the demand for Raúl Castro's prosecution?
The demand for Raúl Castro's prosecution stems from the 1996 downing of two civilian planes by Cuban military jets, resulting in the deaths of four crew members during a humanitarian mission.
Who were the victims of the Brothers to the Rescue mission?
The victims were Mario de la Peña, Carlos Costa, Armando Alejandre Jr., all U.S. citizens, and Pablo Morales, a permanent U.S. resident. Their bodies were never recovered.