Florida issues arrest warrant for Raúl Castro over 1996 plane shootdown
publishers 44articles 54first reported 19 Oct, 13:30 UTCdeveloping since 19 Oct · 10 editions
Florida authorities have charged former Cuban President Raúl Castro with conspiracy to commit first-degree murder and secured an arrest warrant over the 1996 downing of two civilian planes operated by the Miami-based group Brothers to the Rescue.
Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier announced the charge Monday, accusing Castro, now 95, of authorizing the attack while serving as Cuba’s defense minister and first vice president. A Florida judge found sufficient evidence to issue the warrant without bail.
On Feb. 24, 1996, three unarmed Cessna aircraft departed from Opa-Locka Airport in Miami-Dade County. Cuban MiG fighters shot down two of them, killing Carlos Costa, Pablo Morales, Mario de la Peña and Armando Alejandre Jr.; the third aircraft escaped. U.S. authorities say the planes were over international waters, traveling away from Cuba and received no warning. Cuban officials have disputed the circumstances, saying earlier Brothers to the Rescue flights had violated Cuban airspace despite warnings.
The state complaint alleges that Cuban intelligence agents infiltrated Brothers to the Rescue and transmitted flight information before Castro gave final authorization for the shootdown. The case follows a federal indictment announced in May that charged Castro with offenses including conspiracy to kill U.S. nationals, aircraft destruction and four counts of murder.
Uthmeier acknowledged Castro is unlikely to appear voluntarily in a Florida court but said the warrant could expose him to arrest if he travels to a country with an applicable extradition agreement.
HOW THIS STORY WAS MADE
Written from 7 articles, 4 with the publisher's own text; 7 independent newsrooms once syndicated copies count as one (6 if wire copies count as one too); this version written 12 h after the record first saw the story; the editor kept it as written.
- Publishers
- 44
- Source articles
- 54
- Given to the writer
- 7, 4 with the article's own text
- Independent newsrooms
- 7 (6 if wire copies count as one)
- This version written
- 12 h after the record first saw the story
- Second model (editor)
- kept as written
- Publication gate
- passed
- Human review
- none
WHAT THE EDITOR DID
The second model checked the writer's draft against the same sources and published it as written.
Written by a language model from the sources above, then checked by a second model that may only cut, attribute or correct. How it works →