U.S. Representative María Elvira Salazar (FL-27), along with Representatives Mario Díaz-Balart (FL-26) and Carlos A. Giménez (FL-28), Senator Ashley Moody (R-FL), families of the victims, and members of the Cuban American exile community, gathered in Miami to mark the 30th anniversary of the 1996 downing of two Brothers to the Rescue planes. The group called for Raúl Castro to be indicted for his alleged role in the deaths.
On February 24, 1996, Cuban military jets shot down two unarmed civilian aircraft over international waters. The incident resulted in the deaths of Armando Alejandre Jr., Carlos A. Costa, Mario M. de la Peña, and Pablo Morales—three U.S. citizens and one lawful permanent resident.
The officials emphasized that justice has not been served after three decades and called for renewed efforts to hold those responsible accountable.
“For 67 years, the Cuban people, in Miami and on the island, have lived through repression and exile under the Castro regime,” said Rep. María Elvira Salazar. “As we mark the anniversary of the shooting down of two unarmed civilian planes and the killing of three U.S. citizens and one lawful permanent resident, we remember a crime that for decades went unanswered. But this moment is different. Under President Trump and Secretary Rubio, accountability is finally within reach. It’s time to indict Raúl Castro and bring this dictatorship to an end. Freedom is no longer a distant dream.”
“Thirty years ago, Raúl Castro carried out a brutal attack that murdered innocent Americans whose only mission was to save lives,” said Congressman Díaz-Balart. “We gather not only to honor their memory, but to reaffirm that crimes against Americans cannot be ignored, excused, or forgotten. There must be accountability for those responsible. I commend President Trump for his maximum pressure campaign against anti-American regimes and for always prioritizing our national security. The United States must continue to stand firmly with the Cuban people in their pursuit of freedom, justice, and democracy.”
“Today, we reaffirmed a simple truth: justice delayed is justice denied. Nearly three decades after the 1996 Brothers to the Rescue shootdown, the Castro regime has never been held accountable for the cold-blooded murder of Americans carrying out a humanitarian mission,” said Rep. Gimenez. “The facts are clear, the evidence is overwhelming, and responsibility leads directly to Raúl Castro. If America First means defending our citizens and confronting tyranny in our hemisphere, then the time has come for the Department of Justice to act and finally hold Raúl Castro accountable.”
Recently, Representatives Salazar, Díaz-Balart, Giménez, and Malliotakis asked the Department of Justice to reopen its investigation into Raúl Castro’s involvement in this case.