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American Morning

Pentagon Releases Video of Navy Bombing Range Mistake

Aired July 03, 2001 - 09:09   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.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: In other news today, a deadly military accident in Kuwait is being revisited. The Pentagon has released dramatic video from an incident in which a U.S. Navy F-18 pilot mistakenly bombed American troops. Six people were killed in that incident.

More now from our military affairs correspondent Jamie McIntyre.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JAMIE MCINTYRE, CNN MILITARY AFFAIRS CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The just-released video shows what F-18 Pilot Navy Commander David Zimmerman saw on his cockpit display and heard on his radio as he mistakenly dropped three 500-pound bombs on U.S. troops during a live- fire exercise.

GROUND CONTROLLER (HAVOC): Hey, this is Havoc two-zero. Need immediate medevac at O.P. 10. Bombs was dropped on our position. Medevac at O.P. 10 immediately!

MCINTYRE: Six people were killed in the March 12 friendly fire accident at the Udairi range in Kuwait. The victims included four U.S. Army soldiers, an Air Force air controller and a New Zealander. Commander Zimmerman received most of the blame for the accident, because investigators concluded he released his bombs a split-second before an Air Force controller on the ground cleared him.

Heard on the tape is the F-18 pilot call sign Lion, the ground controller call sign Havoc and an airborne controller in an F-14 call sign Latch.

LION: Inbound.

LATCH: Good nose position, Havoc.

HAVOC: Lion One cleared hot...

Abort, abort!

LATCH: Abort.

Havoc, latch.

LION: No way. (END VIDEOTAPE)

MCINTYRE: The range has not been used since this accident which occurred back in March. It turns out that there were three previous incidents on the range in which U.S. aircraft in training dropped their bombs where they were not supposed to, including one that was near this observation post where the March tragedy took place. A range of - the U.S. military officials are reviewing procedures at that range to see what they can do to improve safety in the wake of this accident. But, as I said, since then, the range has not been used - Daryn, Brian.

KAGAN: Jamie McIntyre at the Pentagon. Jamie, thank you.

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