U.S. officials are preparing a major announcement in Miami 30 years after the “Brothers to the Rescue” shootdown, honoring the four men killed in the 1996 incident. The acting U.S. attorney general, the U.S. attorney for South Florida, Florida’s attorney general, and the FBI director will attend the event on Wednesday, which commemorates the deaths of four men when Cuban fighter jets shot down two planes operated by the Miami-based humanitarian group “Brothers to the Rescue” over international waters near Cuba on Feb. 24, 1996. Your neighborhood: Local coverage from WPBF 25 NewsAt the time, Raúl Castro served as Cuba’s minister of the Revolutionary Armed Forces and has long been suspected of playing a major role in the military operation that killed the men. There is growing speculation that Wednesday’s announcement could involve possible criminal charges or even an indictment related to the shootdown of the aircraft. Raúl Castro stepped down as Cuba’s leader in 2021. Any potential indictment against the 94-year-old would need to come from a grand jury. Get the latest news updates with the WPBF 25 News app. You can download it here.The Department of Justice did not comment on the matter. Cuban officials have argued the shooting was legitimate, saying the planes entered their airspace.

MIAMI —

U.S. officials are preparing a major announcement in Miami 30 years after the “Brothers to the Rescue” shootdown, honoring the four men killed in the 1996 incident.

The acting U.S. attorney general, the U.S. attorney for South Florida, Florida’s attorney general, and the FBI director will attend the event on Wednesday, which commemorates the deaths of four men when Cuban fighter jets shot down two planes operated by the Miami-based humanitarian group “Brothers to the Rescue” over international waters near Cuba on Feb. 24, 1996.

MIAMI, FL - FEBRUARY 25: Members of "Brothers to the Rescue" hold a press conference 25 February 1996 with a map showing the location where two of their planes were shot down by Cuban fighter jets off the Cuban coast 24 February. Hundreds of Cuban-Americans staged a rally 25 February after hearing that two "Brothers to the Rescue" planes were shot down by Cuban fighter jets over international waters near Cuba. "Brothers to the Rescue" is a Miami-based group dominated by Cuban exiles opposed to Castro that trolls the waters between Florida and Cuba looking for small boats of Cuban refugees and also drops political leaflets over Cuba. (Photo credit should read RHONA WISE/AFP via Getty Images)

Getty ImagesRHONA WISE

MIAMI, FL – FEBRUARY 25: Members of “Brothers to the Rescue” hold a press conference 25 February 1996 with a map showing the location where two of their planes were shot down by Cuban fighter jets off the Cuban coast 24 February. Hundreds of Cuban-Americans staged a rally 25 February after hearing that two “Brothers to the Rescue” planes were shot down by Cuban fighter jets over international waters near Cuba. “Brothers to the Rescue” is a Miami-based group dominated by Cuban exiles opposed to Castro that trolls the waters between Florida and Cuba looking for small boats of Cuban refugees and also drops political leaflets over Cuba. (Photo credit should read RHONA WISE/AFP via Getty Images)

Your neighborhood: Local coverage from WPBF 25 News

At the time, Raúl Castro served as Cuba’s minister of the Revolutionary Armed Forces and has long been suspected of playing a major role in the military operation that killed the men.

Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen points to a poster with pictures of those lost from the group called 'Brothers to the Rescue' when they were shot down by Cuban fighter jets in 1996. Senator Marco Rubio and other congressional people addressed the decision by President Barack Obama to change the Unites States Cuba policy. The press conference was held to denounce the changes to U.S.-Cuba policy by the Obama admisnistration. (Photo by Michele Eve Sandberg/Corbis via Getty Images)

Getty ImagesMichele Sandberg

Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen points to a poster with pictures of those lost from the group called ’Brothers to the Rescue’ when they were shot down by Cuban fighter jets in 1996. Senator Marco Rubio and other congressional people addressed the decision by President Barack Obama to change the Unites States Cuba policy. The press conference was held to denounce the changes to U.S.-Cuba policy by the Obama admisnistration. (Photo by Michele Eve Sandberg/Corbis via Getty Images)

There is growing speculation that Wednesday’s announcement could involve possible criminal charges or even an indictment related to the shootdown of the aircraft.

Cuban president Raul Castro (L) is seen during celebrations of the 64th anniversary of the guerrilla assault on the Moncada Barracks, widely regarded as the beginning of the Cuban Revolution, in Pinar del Rio Province, on July 26, 2017. / AFP PHOTO / ADALBERTO ROQUE (Photo credit should read ADALBERTO ROQUE/AFP via Getty Images)

Getty ImagesAFP Contributor

Cuban president Raul Castro (L) is seen during celebrations of the 64th anniversary of the guerrilla assault on the Moncada Barracks, widely regarded as the beginning of the Cuban Revolution, in Pinar del Rio Province, on July 26, 2017. / AFP PHOTO / ADALBERTO ROQUE (Photo credit should read ADALBERTO ROQUE/AFP via Getty Images)

Raúl Castro stepped down as Cuba’s leader in 2021. Any potential indictment against the 94-year-old would need to come from a grand jury.

Get the latest news updates with the WPBF 25 News app. You can download it here.

The Department of Justice did not comment on the matter.

Cuban officials have argued the shooting was legitimate, saying the planes entered their airspace.