U.S. officials unseal indictment charging Raul Castro in 1996 Brothers to the Rescue shootdown

Acting U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche announced at Miami’s Freedom Tower on May 20, 2026, that a federal grand jury returned an indictment charging Raul Castro and five co-defendants with conspiracy to kill U.S. nationals, destruction of aircraft and four counts of murder in the Feb. 24, 1996 shootdown of two Brothers to the Rescue planes that killed four U.S. citizens.

The indictment was returned by a grand jury in the Southern District of Florida on April 23, 2026, and unsealed on May 20, officials said. Blanche, joined by U.S. Attorney Jason Redding Quinones and FBI Deputy Director Chris Rea, said the charges reflect allegations that Cuban military aircraft fired missiles at the civilian planes over international waters, destroying both aircraft and killing Carlos Costa, Armando Alejandre Jr., Mario de la Peña and Pablo Morales.

"If you kill Americans, we will pursue you no matter who you are, no matter what title you hold," Blanche said. He emphasized that the indictment is the grand jury’s statement of probable cause and reiterated that defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty at trial.

U.S. Attorney Jason Redding Quinones described the filing as a "step towards accountability," noting the case’s long history and thanking prosecutors, FBI agents and state partners for their work. "For 30 years, the families have waited," Quinones said. "Today is a step towards accountability."

FBI Deputy Director Chris Rea credited multi-decade investigative work across FBI units and partner agencies. "If it's five months, five years, five decades, we will keep pursuing you," Rea said, recounting his own Coast Guard service and the bureau’s persistence in investigating the case.

Reporters pressed officials on the timing of the unsealing and on prospects for bringing Raul Castro to the United States to face charges. Blanche said evidence was presented to a grand jury in late April and that a warrant is expected; he declined to describe evidentiary details beyond what is in the indictment. "We indict men outside of this country all the time," he said, adding that there are "all kinds of different ways" to secure custody but refusing to discuss operational options.

When asked whether additional members of the Cuban regime could face charges, Blanche said the investigation remains active and that additional charges or defendants are possible. On a question about whether the indictment signals or authorizes any U.S. military action, Blanche said decisions about military or foreign-policy responses fall outside the attorney general’s office and involve the president and other agencies.

The officials did not describe any executed arrests at the press conference. Blanche and Quinones urged patience while the legal process — arrest, potential extradition and court proceedings — runs its course. The press conference concluded with organizers inviting attendees to an exhibit at the Freedom Tower.

What happens next: the indictment is now a public charging instrument in the Southern District of Florida; an arrest warrant is expected, and prosecutors indicated they will pursue the case through the federal courts. The government’s filings and any subsequent court proceedings will provide additional detail on the allegations and evidence.