4 Feb 2010

Video shows fighter jets shooting down US missionaries

An extraordinary video has emerged showing a bungled CIA operation that led to the shooting down of a light plane carrying American missionaries in Peru. (Nine years ago!) 

The dramatic footage taken from a CIA surveillance plane, which has been shown on America's ABC News, shows Peruvian fighter jets opening fire on the missionaries' seaplane even as its pilot screamed for help.

Although the Peruvian pilots issued a warning first, the pilot of the missionaries' plane was on a different frequency and could not hear it.

The Peruvian jets shot down the missionaries despite CIA officers expressing serious doubts that the people they were shadowing were drug dealers.

More on Times Online

Also see: Statement from the CIA on the 2001 Peru Shootdown – ABC News