They confirmed that four people were killed and six others were injured in the incident.
The US is investigating the incident and has already sent an official request to Cuba, as well as access to the victims.
The names of the crew and passengers are not being released. According to a US official, the boat was hijacked in Florida, likely by an employee of the boat owner.
Some of those on board had criminal records; at least one of the dead was a US citizen, and another US citizen was among the injured and is undergoing treatment in Cuba. One of the passengers had a valid K-1 visa for marriage to a US citizen, while the others were legal permanent residents of the US.
The purpose of their trip remains unclear, the publication notes.
The boat’s owner told investigators he suspected the worker who was helping him lay the tiles: he claimed he may have taken the boat because he had left his truck near the mooring. He also said the worker had family in Cuba, including two young daughters.
The New York Times previously reported that the boat was not owned by the US Navy, but rather that it was carrying people heading to Cuba to bring back their relatives.