Indictment of former Cuban president includes 5 fighter jet pilots

Federal authorities in the United States have charged former Cuban President Raúl Castro and five fighter pilots in the 1996 downing of civilian planes operated by Miami-based exiles.

The indictment announced Wednesday emerged as the Trump administration continues its pressure campaign to topple the island’s socialist government.

The charges accuse Castro and the military pilots of conspiring to terrorize, intimidate and retaliate against Cubans and the country’s exile community by shooting down the aircraft flown by the Brothers to the Rescue group.

Castro is now 94.

He was defense minister when MiG warplanes targeted the small civilian aircraft.