The United States is preparing to indict former Cuban president Raúl Castro over the 1996 shootdown of two civilian planes operated by the exile group Brothers to the Rescue, according to a US Department of Justice official.

The potential indictment — which must be approved by a grand jury — is expected to focus on Cuba's 1996 downing of two planes operated by a humanitarian group.

The US government is weighing a federal indictment against former Cuban president Raúl Castro over the 1996 downing of two civilian aircraft operated by the humanitarian…