Timeline
February 25, 2026 — March 4, 2026
World
Timeline: How the Cuba-Florida Speedboat Incident Unfolded Over 8 Days
A deadly confrontation between Cuban coast guard forces and passengers aboard a Florida-registered speedboat resulted in four deaths and six injuries, triggering an international investigation. The incident escalated tensions between Cuba and the United States as conflicting narratives emerged about the boat's mission, the citizenship of those involved, and whether the vessel was part of an attempted infiltration or armed raid against Cuba's government.
8 events · 6 days · 21 source articles
Wed, Feb 25, 2026
Major
Cuban coast guard kills four in firefight with Florida-registered speedboat
Cuban forces intercepted a Florida-registered speedboat (FL7726SH) one nautical mile from Falcones Cay in Villa Clara province. According to Cuba's Interior Ministry, occupants of the boat opened fire first, injuring the Cuban commander. Cuban forces returned fire, killing four people and wounding six others aboard the speedboat. All injured individuals received medical treatment.
Wed, Feb 25, 2026
Major
US Secretary of State Rubio announces investigation into incident
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed he was aware of the incident and stated that multiple US government agencies were working to identify whether any victims were American citizens or permanent residents. Rubio emphasized the US would not rely solely on Cuban accounts and described the situation as potentially involving 'a wide range of things.'
Wed, Feb 25, 2026
Major
Cuba accuses boat occupants of attempted terrorist infiltration
Hours after the initial incident, Cuban authorities released additional information claiming the 10 passengers on the boat were armed Cubans living in the US who were attempting to infiltrate the island to unleash terrorism. Cuba alleged that the majority of those aboard had 'a known history of criminal and violent activity.'
Thu, Feb 26, 2026
Moderate
Cuban officials claim boat carried weapons and Molotov cocktails
Cuban coastguard officials provided further details, alleging the speedboat was loaded with firearms and Molotov cocktails. Authorities maintained that the 10 gunmen intended to carry out an infiltration for terrorist purposes and were attempting to destabilize the country's government.
Thu, Feb 26, 2026
Moderate
Florida Republicans call for Cuban regime change
Florida Republican officials, including Cuban-born Representative Carlos Gimenez, responded to the incident by renewing calls for regime change in Cuba. The deadly confrontation added another layer of volatility to US-Cuba relations, already strained by President Trump's fuel blockade and other measures.
Thu, Feb 26, 2026
Major
US confirms at least two American citizens were aboard the boat
A US official revealed that at least one American citizen was killed and another injured in the shootout. A third person aboard held a US K-1 visa (for fiancées of American citizens), and others may have been legal permanent residents. This contradicted Cuban authorities' earlier claims that all 10 were Cuban nationals residing in the US.
Fri, Feb 27, 2026
Moderate
Victim identified as Tampa man who sought to overthrow Cuban government
Family and friends identified Michel Ortega Casanova, a Tampa resident, as one of the four men killed in the confrontation. His loved ones confirmed that he had wanted to overthrow Cuba's government, providing insight into the motivations of at least one passenger aboard the speedboat.
Wed, Mar 4, 2026
Major
Cuba charges six survivors with terrorism crimes
Cuban prosecutors formally charged the six surviving Cuban nationals with 'crimes of terrorism,' accusing them of entering Cuba with a US-flagged boat packed with weapons to stir unrest. Officials claimed the boat carried 14 rifles, 11 pistols, and nearly 13,000 rounds of ammunition. US Secretary of State Rubio emphasized it was not a US government operation.
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