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CNN Sunday Morning

Officials Sorting Facts in Accidental Missionary Death

Aired April 22, 2001 - 09:01   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.
MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: We begin our program this hour in Washington, where U.S. officials are sorting out the facts in the accidental death of an American missionary in Peru.

A vigil in Michigan yesterday mourned the death of the Muskegon native, Roni Bowers, and her infant daughter. Their plane was shot down Friday by a Peruvian Air Force plane, mistakenly thinking it was an aircraft carrying illegal drugs. Bowers husband, seven-year-old son and the pilot survived the attack. Bowers and her family were members of Baptists for World Evangelism based in Pennsylvania.

The Peruvian Air Force plane was acting on a tip from a U.S. anti-drug surveillance plane. The drug interdiction flights are part of long-standing U.S.-Peru projects to combat smuggling.

The Bowers plane was flying without a flight plan in airspace frequented by drug runners.

Joining us now with more, CNN's Patty Davis at the Pentagon -- Patty.

PATTY DAVIS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Miles, U.S. officials say those anti-drug surveillance flights operated by the U.S. are being suspended for now pending an investigation.

The State Department does say that a U.S. surveillance plane did indeed help locate that plane over Peruvian airspace, gave the information to the Peruvian Air Force, that plane mistakenly taken for one carrying illegal drugs. And the Peruvian Air Force did try to signal that plane, but no response, and then the plane was shot down. Two of the five Americans onboard, as you said, killed.

Now, that surveillance plane, though, according to the Pentagon, not a U.S. military aircraft. The Pentagon stressing that this morning. The U.S. has provided assistance to Peru over the years, help in it's interdiction efforts to help stem the flow of illegal drugs, that will continue. But, for now, those U.S. surveillance flights to help in the anti-drug efforts, suspended -- Miles.

O'BRIEN: CNN's Patty Davis at the Pentagon. Thank you very much.

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