ABC WORLD NEWS TONIGHT WITH PETER JENNINGS December 10, 2003
MISSILE ATTACK TARGET: AMERICANS
PETER JENNINGS, ABC NEWS We learn from the Pentagon today that a C-17 transport plane was hit by a missile in Iraq. One of the plane's engines was knocked out. The crew made an emergency landing. It was a very close call for a very important aircraft. Here's ABC's Martha Raddatz.
MARTHA RADDATZ, ABC NEWS The C-17 had just lifted off from Baghdad airport with 16 people on board when the pilot reported that an engine had exploded. A senior official tells ABC News that it was the left engine of the plane that was hit. Shrapnel marks were also visible on the aircraft. The C-17 is used to fly the most senior US officials in and out of Baghdad. Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld few into Iraq on one just last Saturday. Pilots of the C-17 and other aircraft fly evasive maneuvers in Baghdad, such as the corkscrew landing. In addition, the C-17 has all kinds of equipment designed to make it hard to shoot down.
JOHN PIKE, DIRECTOR, GLOBALSECURITY.ORG All of these C-17 aircraft have flares them that will divert heat- seeking shoulder-fired missiles. Normally these systems would be operating automatically because the pilot would not have time to respond.
MARTHA RADDATZ But a senior military official tells ABC News that in this case it appears that the automatic warning system failed. An investigation is now underway. Last month, the wing of a DHL cargo plane was hit a ground-fired missile. These recent pictures show the damage was extensive.
JOHN PIKE These missiles have a long range, which people could shoot at American aircraft and not a heck of a lot American soldiers can do about it.
MARTHA RADDATZ And with hundreds, if not thousands of shoulder-fired missiles still in Iraq, it is something the military is going to have to worry about for a long time. Martha Raddatz, ABC News, the Pentagon.
© Copyright 2003 American Broadcasting Companies, Inc.
