Cuba shoots down two Brothers to the Rescue planes over international waters

On February 24, 1996, Cuban Air Force MiG-29 and MiG-23 jets intercepted and fired air-to-air missiles at two unarmed Cessna 337 Skymaster aircraft operated by Brothers to the Rescue while they flew over international waters in the Florida Straits, killing all four occupants: Carlos Costa, Armando Alejandre Jr., Mario de la Peña, and Pablo Morales. The International Civil Aviation Organization later confirmed the planes were shot down 9 and 10 nautical miles outside Cuban territorial airspace with no warning issued and no attempt to use radio communication before the attack. A third plane piloted by José Basulto escaped. The shootdown of unarmed civilian aircraft in international airspace drew immediate global condemnation.