Updated
Updated · The New York Times · May 20
Cuba Downed 2 Brothers to the Rescue Planes After Months of U.S. Diplomatic Wrangling
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · May 20

Cuba Downed 2 Brothers to the Rescue Planes After Months of U.S. Diplomatic Wrangling

7 articles · Updated · The New York Times · May 20
  • Two Brothers to the Rescue civilian aircraft were shot down by Cuba in 1996 in international skies north of the island, according to records highlighted by the National Security Archive.
  • Months of U.S.-Cuba exchanges preceded the attack as Havana repeatedly protested the group’s flights and the Clinton administration pressed for evidence that Cuban airspace had been violated.
  • Brothers to the Rescue had shifted from spotting Cuban migrants at sea to more provocative missions, with founder José Basulto flying over Cuba and dropping leaflets including excerpts from the U.N. Declaration on Human Rights.
  • Two days before the doomed flight, an FAA official warned colleagues after learning Basulto planned another mission, underscoring how closely U.S. officials were tracking the escalating dispute.
As new details on U.S. foreknowledge emerge, could the quest for accountability expand beyond the actions of Cuba?
After 30 years, is indicting a 94-year-old Castro about justice or a calculated geopolitical move?