On February 24, 1996, two Cuban MiG jet fighters took off toward Florida to hunt and shoot down two unarmed, civilian US Cessna aircraft that were flying a humanitarian rescue mission to save Cuban balseros. Four Americans died - Carlos Costa, Armando Alejandre, Jr., Mario de la Peña, and Pablo Morales.
At the time, President Clinton, the UN, OAS, and others condemned Cuba's actions as "cold-blooded murder" and "extrajudicial execution." The Department of Justice issued warrants for the arrest and trial of the two pilots, LTC Lorenzo Alberto Perez Perez and LTC Francisco Perez Perez, which remain valid and on the books.
President Obama should renew the US request for their extradition during his upcoming trip to Cuba.
Cuba must stop harboring fugitives and hand them over to stand trial.