The CIA sat by as the Peruvian air force shot down a plane carrying a family of American missionaries, according to dramatic surveillance footage obtained by ABC News.

The incident took place above Peru’s jungle canopy in 2001. Two people — Veronica Bowers and her infant daughter, Charity — were killed when the plane crash-landed into a muddy river.

The video contains chatter between a CIA spotter plane and Peruvian military as they try to figure out if the single-engine float plane spotted below them is being piloted by drug smugglers.

In fact, the plane contained American missionaries Jim and Veronica Bowers, their two children, along with a pilot, Kevin Donaldson. The Bowers were flying back from a trip to Brazil when they attracted the attention of the military operation.

From the outset, the CIA operatives have their doubts.

“I don’t know if this is bandito or amigo,” one CIA pilot says. Throughout the video, the CIA officers and their Peruvian counterparts struggle to communicate, since neither speaks the other’s language.

Before the Peruvians attack, they order the plane to land. Donaldson didn’t hear the warning because he was tuned to another radio frequency.

As the Peruvians close in, the CIA pilots voice their concerns for the recording.

“This guy doesn’t fit the profile,” one CIA operative says.

“Okay, I understand that this is not our call. But this guy is at 4,500 feet. He is not taking any evasive action. I recommend we follow him. I do not recommend phase 3 (shooting the plane down) at this time,” says another.

“Is phase 3 authorize, okay,” a Peruvian fighter jet says.

“Okay,” the American responds dubiously. “You sure it’s bandito?”

“Yes,” the Peruvian replies.

“I think we’re making a mistake,” the CIA pilot mutters.

“I agree with you,” says another.

The Peruvians close in. The Bowers’ pilot nervously radios a control tower nearby and wonders why the fighter jet is following him.

The CIA pilots, listening in, try to stop the attack. But the Peruvians have already begun strafing the float plane.

“They’re killing me!” Donaldson screams in Spanish.

The CIA pilots jump in.

“Tell him to terminate!” one shouts.

“Don’t shoot!” the other screams.

But the Bowers plane is already hit and begins to plunge to the ground.

Veronica Bowers and her 7-month-old daughter, Charity, were already dead, struck by high-caliber bullets.

Despite being shot in the legs, Donaldson managed to steer the plane into a river. Donaldson, Jim Bowers and the Bowers’ six-year-old son, Cory, survived.

The issue of the downing of the Bowers plane has festered in the nearly 9 years since it happened. The family’s cause has been taken up Representative Peter Hoekstra of Michigan. He has previously accused the CIA of covering up their involvement in the attack.

In 2008, CIA inspector general John Helgerson accused his own outfit of covering up details of the incident. The CIA’s own investigation, concluded in 2005, wrapped up without charges against anyone involved.

According to the New York Times, Helgerson’s report accused the CIA drug interception operation in Peru of regularly confronting suspected drug traffickers “without adequate safeguards to protect against the loss of innocent life.”

On Wednesday, the CIA announced that it had disciplined 16 officers in connection with the case, including the officer in charge of counter-narcotics operations in Peru. Then they deflected the blame onto the Peruvians.

“CIA personnel had no authority either to direct or prohibit actions by that government,” the agency wrote in a statement given to ABC. “CIA officers did not shoot down any airplane. In the case of the tragic downing of April 21st, 2001, CIA personnel protested the identification of the missionary plane as a suspect drug trafficker.”