Escape from the Raft

"My faith is in people, I guess. Individuals. And I’m happy to say for the most part, they haven’t let me down. Which is why I can’t let them down either. Locks can be replaced, but... maybe they shouldn’t."

- Steve Rogers' letter to Tony Stark

The Escape from the Raft was a successful attempt made by Steve Rogers to help former members of the Avengers escape from the underwater prison known as the Raft.

Background
"The rest of us aren't getting out of here." "As much as I hate to admit it, if we're gonna win this one, some of us might have to lose it."

- Sam Wilson and Clint Barton Following the Clash of the Avengers, Falcon, Hawkeye, Scarlet Witch and Ant-Man were taken to the Raft while Captain America and Winter Soldier headed to Siberia to track down Helmut Zemo. Iron Man visited the Raft to find out from Wilson where Rogers and Barnes had gone.

Escape
"Tony, we have a problem." "Ah, please hold." "No, no..."

- Thaddeus Ross and Tony Stark

After the Battle of the HYDRA Siberian Facility, Zemo was taken into custody and Rogers was forced to leave his shield behind, convinced by Stark that he didn't deserve it as he and Barnes walked away. Rogers managed to take out all the marshals and set Clint Barton, Scott Lang, Sam Wilson and Wanda Maximoff free.

Aftermath
"I don't know why we're showing this. I'm pretty sure he's a war criminal now, but it's part of the curriculum."

- Wilson regarding Captain America's Fitness Challenge

Sometime later, Tony Stark received a package containing a cell phone and a letter from Steve Rogers, who apologized for keeping the truth from him and informed him that he will be just a phone call away.

Secretary of State Thaddeus Ross then contacted Stark and asked him to bring in his renegade comrades. Stark, however, ended the call by pretending to be busy, implying he was letting them escape.

Rogers and Bucky Barnes then made their way to Wakanda, where T'Challa granted them asylum and promised to watch over Barnes, who chose to remain in cryogenic stasis until his mind could be cleansed of the mental programming.

News regarding Rogers' actions during the Avengers Civil War as well as his infiltration into the Raft had him publicly declared as a war criminal.