CHRONOLGY OF AIRCRAFT SHOOTDOWN BY CUBAN MIG, 24 FEBRUARY 1996

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: FOIA Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 06112370
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: March 8, 2023
• Document Release Date: March 25, 2019
• Case Number: F-2013-02649
• Publication Date: February 24, 1996

'5.71 15:19
DOCID : 4071998
Approved for Release: 2019/03/13 C06112370
Chronology of Aircraft Shootdown by Cuban MiG, 24 February 1996
0928' Brothers to the Rescue (BTTR) files six flight plans telephonically, initially fore 1015 planned
departure.
1000-1200 Cuban fighters are airborne in reaction to believed incursion into Cuban territorial airspace by
aircraft operated by BTU..
1148 Civilian pilot updates three flight plans to reflect intended 1230 departure. Other three flight
plans expire at 1215.
1313 Three US-based civilian aircraft belonging to BTTR depart Opa Locks Airfield, Miami:
They are identified as:
Aircraft
4.caiamita
Tail
Number
Transponder
CoLica
Calor
1
Jose Basulto
Arnaldo Iglesias
Andres Iriondo
Silvia Irian&
N2506
1222
Light Blue
2
Carlos Costa
Pablo Morales
N2456S
1223
White and Blur
3
Mario de la Pena
Armando Alejandre
N54855
1224
White and Blue
w/ Red Stripe
1456-1457 Three civilian aircraft inform the Havana civilian Mr Traffic Control Center that they intend to
operate south of the 24th parallel. Control Center warns aircraft not to fly south of the 24th
parallel because the area was "active and dangerous." BTTR aircraft respond they are aware of
the danger but will be flying south of the parallel anyway.
1507-1516 US Customs radar shows the three civilian aircraft operating south of the 24th parallel.
US Customs radar also shows two fast-moving aircraft airborne north of Havana, Subsequent
information identifies them as a MiC1�23and a MIG-29out of San Antonio de los Banos
1518 Us Customs radar shows Aircraft 1 approximately 1 nm north of Cuban territorial airspace
(which extends 12 nautical miles from the Cuban coastline) and heading south. Aircraft 2 and 3
are approximately 8 nm north of Cuban airspace and headed east.
1519 Data derived from US Customs radar shows Aircraft 1 has entered Cuban territorial airspace.
1520 Cuban fighters request permission to fire on a white and blue Cessna 337 aircraft. Cuban
ground controllers give pilot authorization to destroy aircraft.
Eastern Standard Time
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1521 The Mi0-29 pilot reports that Aircraft 2 has been destroyed.
1521 The crew of a Norwegian-flagged cruise ship, located in international waters, sees the explosion
of Aircraft 2 from 6-7 nm away, and places the shootdown at approximately 8 nm outside of
Cuban territorial airspace.
1521 The crew of a US-registered fishing boat, also in international waters, observes the downing of
Aircraft 2. The fishing boat arrives at the crash site and sees an oil slick and an orange float.
1524 US Customs radar shows no Aircraft 2 on scope, US Customs radar last observes Aircraft 2
approximately 5 nm outside Cuban territorial airspace.
1524 The Mi0-29 pilot visually acquires Aircraft 3.
1526 Aircraft 1 reverses course and reenters international airspace.
1526 The crews of the cruise ship and the fishing boat observe a military jet fire a missile and destroy
Aircraft 3. The cruise ship places the downing of the aircraft at about 11 run outside of Cuba's
twelve mile territorial airspace. Approximately 15 minutes later, the cruise ship passed within
2-3 nm of the crash site and observed an oil slick but no debris.
1528 MiG-29 pilot reports Aircraft 3 has been destroyed. US Customs radar shows no Aircraft 3 on
scope. US Customs radar last observed Aircraft3 approximately 16 ran outside Cuban territorial
airspace.
1709 Aircraft 1 lands at Opa Locks Airfield in Miami,
Approved for Release: 2019/03/13 C06112370