Return to Transcripts main page

Live From...

Pilot Hit by Iraqi Missile Ejects, Rescued

Aired April 08, 2003 - 14:33   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


JUDY WOODRUFF, CNN ANCHOR: Much of this war as we know has been fought from the air. The Pentagon today saying the coalition has flown by their count more than 30,000 sorties over Iraq since the war began. CNN's Gary Tuchman joins us once again from an air base near the Iraqi border. Hello, Gary.
GARY TUCHMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Judy, hello to you. And for the first time since the war began 20 days ago a U.S. Air Force plane has been shot down. However, the pilot aboard the plane has been rescued and is safe.

The plane involved was an A-10 Warthog. It was literally parked right behind us at this base. It went out with two other A-10s early this morning about 12 1/2 hours ago local time. All three of the A- 10s were hit by Iraqi surface-to-air missiles.

One of the A-10s got back safely to this base. The other A-10 got back safely to a U.S. coalition-controlled base in southern Iraq. But the third A-10 did not make it back. However, the pilot ejected. All pilots carry parachutes. He ejected safely and then was rescued in the desert south of Baghdad by Army ground troops, U.S. Army ground troops, who were on the scene.

Now as I said, everyone has parachutes with them. Even we, reporters when we've been flying on combat support missions, we have parachutes. Frankly, I don't know how well we would use them if the situation came. But these pilots, the men and women who fly these missions, they're very prepared and everything went well.

He was rescued. The pilot is now back at this base. He is in good condition. Said to be in good spirits. His name hasn't been released yet but we are told he is with the 172nd Fighter Squadron which based in Battle Creek, Michigan.

We have seen a photograph of one of the other planes that was shots that is now at the air base in Iraq. The plane has a hole in the right engine. Two hundred thirty-five sorties from this base alone in the last 24 hours, including the plane that is now in the desert.

Judy, back to you.

WOODRUFF: Gary, it is almost as if these pilots have been making these runs so often since the war got underway, it is almost as if even when one is shot down some sort of routine kicks in with them. TUCHMAN: No question about it. And we keep hearing over and over again, that this is a very dangerous job. You said the number yourself, there have been 30,000 sorties. Out of those 30,000, before today the only bad news for the coalition was a British Tornado that was shot down, killing two British pilots, and that was an accident. It was shot down by a patriot missile battery.

So you see it's very easy for many of us to get complacent with the success of this air campaign. This is a reminder of how dangerous the work these pilots do is.

WOODRUFF: And just quickly, Gary, how would you compare the frequency of flights now to was it has been earlier in the war? Is it slowing down at all?

TUCHMAN: Maybe a little bit at the base we're at. But we're talking about 235 sorties at this particular very busy base near the Iraqi border over the last 24 hours. We had up to 300 at the base. It's been averaging 250 or 260. So it's a minute drop but it's still a considerable number of planes.

WOODRUFF: All right. Gary Tuchman reporting from an air base near the Iraqi border. And as we heard the Pentagon say earlier today, coalition forces now have air supremacy over the country of Iraq.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com






Aired April 8, 2003 - 14:33   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
JUDY WOODRUFF, CNN ANCHOR: Much of this war as we know has been fought from the air. The Pentagon today saying the coalition has flown by their count more than 30,000 sorties over Iraq since the war began. CNN's Gary Tuchman joins us once again from an air base near the Iraqi border. Hello, Gary.
GARY TUCHMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Judy, hello to you. And for the first time since the war began 20 days ago a U.S. Air Force plane has been shot down. However, the pilot aboard the plane has been rescued and is safe.

The plane involved was an A-10 Warthog. It was literally parked right behind us at this base. It went out with two other A-10s early this morning about 12 1/2 hours ago local time. All three of the A- 10s were hit by Iraqi surface-to-air missiles.

One of the A-10s got back safely to this base. The other A-10 got back safely to a U.S. coalition-controlled base in southern Iraq. But the third A-10 did not make it back. However, the pilot ejected. All pilots carry parachutes. He ejected safely and then was rescued in the desert south of Baghdad by Army ground troops, U.S. Army ground troops, who were on the scene.

Now as I said, everyone has parachutes with them. Even we, reporters when we've been flying on combat support missions, we have parachutes. Frankly, I don't know how well we would use them if the situation came. But these pilots, the men and women who fly these missions, they're very prepared and everything went well.

He was rescued. The pilot is now back at this base. He is in good condition. Said to be in good spirits. His name hasn't been released yet but we are told he is with the 172nd Fighter Squadron which based in Battle Creek, Michigan.

We have seen a photograph of one of the other planes that was shots that is now at the air base in Iraq. The plane has a hole in the right engine. Two hundred thirty-five sorties from this base alone in the last 24 hours, including the plane that is now in the desert.

Judy, back to you.

WOODRUFF: Gary, it is almost as if these pilots have been making these runs so often since the war got underway, it is almost as if even when one is shot down some sort of routine kicks in with them. TUCHMAN: No question about it. And we keep hearing over and over again, that this is a very dangerous job. You said the number yourself, there have been 30,000 sorties. Out of those 30,000, before today the only bad news for the coalition was a British Tornado that was shot down, killing two British pilots, and that was an accident. It was shot down by a patriot missile battery.

So you see it's very easy for many of us to get complacent with the success of this air campaign. This is a reminder of how dangerous the work these pilots do is.

WOODRUFF: And just quickly, Gary, how would you compare the frequency of flights now to was it has been earlier in the war? Is it slowing down at all?

TUCHMAN: Maybe a little bit at the base we're at. But we're talking about 235 sorties at this particular very busy base near the Iraqi border over the last 24 hours. We had up to 300 at the base. It's been averaging 250 or 260. So it's a minute drop but it's still a considerable number of planes.

WOODRUFF: All right. Gary Tuchman reporting from an air base near the Iraqi border. And as we heard the Pentagon say earlier today, coalition forces now have air supremacy over the country of Iraq.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com