Cuba Shoots Down Civilian Planes in 1996 In February 1996, two small civilian planes were shot down by Cuban military jets over the island's airspace, resulting in the loss of four lives.
This incident marked a pivotal moment in US Cuba relations and had significant implications for international aviation.
Background: Soviet era Influence on Airspace Control Prior to the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, Cuba's airspace control system was heavily influenced by its Soviet benefactors.