On February 24, 1996, two civilian planes operated by a Miami-based organization known as Brothers to the Rescue were shot down by fighter jets from the Cuban Air Force. The planes were conducting a humanitarian mission, which included the search and rescue of Cuban rafters attempting to reach the United States. The incident occurred approximately 12 miles off the coast of Cuba, in international waters, leading to a significant international outcry. Following the incident, it was revealed that the Cuban government had deemed the aircraft a threat to national security due to their activities in aiding Cuban defectors and critics of the regime. In the altered political landscape of the post-Cold War era, this event escalated tensions between the United States and Cuba.

In response to the shootdown, the U.S. government condemned Cuba's actions, with President Bill Clinton imposing further sanctions on Cuba and enhancing the Coast Guard's presence in the Florida Straits. The fallout from the event led to a significant shift in U.S. policy, leaning towards a more hardline stance that would affect U.S.-Cuban relations for years to come. At the same time, the incident galvanized Cuban-American support for anti-Castro policies, leading to stronger political advocacy within the United States. The shootdown left a lasting legacy in terms of U.S.-Cuba relations and kept the Cuban-American community active in the political discourse surrounding their homeland.