'They're killing us!' Dramatic video shows Peruvian air force shooting down U.S. family's plane in bungled CIA operation



A dramatic video showing fighter jets shooting down a small plane carrying an American family over Peru in a CIA operation gone tragically wrong has emerged.

The video footage was taken by a CIA surveillance plane over the Peruvian jungle in 2001.

It shows Peruvian fighter jets opening fire on the light Cessna carrying Jim and Veronica Bowers and their children Cory, 6, and adopted baby Charity, who was just seven months, as well as pilot Kevin Donaldson.



On the tape, they can be heard screaming for help.

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Fatal mistake: Bowers family pilot Kevin Donaldson can be heard screaming on a CIA surveillance video as the Peruvian air force opens fire on their small Cessna over the jungle in 2001



'Don't shoot!' The Bowers' plane bursts into flame over the jungle



'They're killing me! They're killing us!' Mr Donaldson can be heard yelling to ground control.



CIA officers, realising their mistake, can be heard shouting: 'Don't shoot! No more, no más!'

But by the time the guns stopped, it was too late.



Mrs Bowers and Charity both died in the horrific accident when a single bullet pierced the plane's hull and passed through both their bodies.

The pilot managed to crash land the plane in a river, where Mr Bowers and his son watched Mrs Bowers' body float away as they clung to the debris.



The Bowers, an American family of missionaries, were returning to Iquitos in Peru from a routine trip to Brazil on April 20, 2001 when they were spotted by the CIA.

The skies over the Peruvian jungle are a hotspot for drug traffickers. Since 1995 the CIA and Peru's air force have been operating a joint program to intercept traffickers - shooting them down if necessary.

Innocent: The Bowers family - father Jim, mother Veronica, son Cory, and adopted baby Charity - in a photo taken less than four months before the tragic accident. Charity and Veronica both died in the attack



'No more': The CIA finally orders the Peruvian air force to stop firing on the plane



Believing the Bowers' Cessna was that of another drug trafficker, the CIA aircraft alerted the Peruvian air force, which scrambled a fighter jet.

The CIA then tracked the Bowers for two hours - during which doubts set in.

'This guy doesn't fit the profile,' one CIA pilot can be heard saying in the footage, first aired on ABC News in America.

He is heard asking Peruvian contacts on the ground: 'Are you sure this is bandito? Are you sure?'

'Yes, OK,' replies the Peruvian.

'If you're sure,' says the CIA pilot.



But then one CIA operative can be heard saying to his colleague in the aircraft: 'That is bull****. I think we're making a mistake.'

'I agree with you,' the other replies.

But neither speak up - and a minute and a half later it is too late.

The Peruvian jet issues a warning to the Bowers' plane, ordering it to change course or 'We will shoot you down'.

Smoke pours from the plane's fuselage as it plummets through the air



Bowers family pilot Mr Donaldson battles to crash land the plane on a piranha-filled river below

But the light plane is on the wrong frequency, and Mr Donaldson never hears the order.



The result is an explosion of fire targeting the family's plane.

'They're killing me. They're killing us,' Mr Donaldson screams in terror.



'Tell him to terminate,' one of the CIA operatives orders the Peruvian ground crew. 'No. Don't shoot. No more, no más!'

'Stop!' the Peruvian shouts at the fighter jet pilot. 'No más, no más, Tucan no more.'

'God,' says one of the CIA pilots.

They watch as Mr Donaldson, despite being shot in the legs by the barrage of bullets, manages to crash land the burning plane on to a piranha-filled river below.

Though the men and Cory survived, Mrs Bowers and Charity were both killed by a bullet that pierced the plane's fuselage. The single bullet passed through Mrs Bowers' back and lodged in the baby's skull.



The emergence of the video has led to fresh accusations that the CIA covered up its role in the deaths.



The agency held a nine-year investigation into the incident and said 16 of its employees had to be disciplined, including the woman who was in charge of counter-narcotics at the time.



But in a statement yesterday the agency appearead to blame the Peruvian air force for the tragedy.

'The programme to deny drug traffickers an 'air bridge' ended in 2001 and was run by a foreign government,' the CIA said. 'CIA personnel had no authority either to direct or prohibit actions by that government.



'CIA officers did not shoot down any airplane. In the case of the tragic downing of April 21, 2001, [sic] CIA personnel protested the identification of the missionary plane as a suspect drug trafficker.

'This was a tragic episode that the Agency has dealt with in a professional and thorough manner.



'Unfortunately, some have been willing to twist facts to imply otherwise. In so doing, they do a tremendous disservice to CIA officers, serving and retired, who have risked their lives for America's national security.'

Mrs Bowers' mother, Gloria Luttig, told ABC News: 'I want somebody to have to stand up and say I was responsible. I want him to know what a mother's heart is like.'

Senator Pete Koekstra, who has campaigned for the family, said: 'If ever there's an example of justice delayed, justice denied, this is it.'

He told ABC: The [intelligence] community's performance in terms of accountability has been unacceptable.



'These were Americans that were killed with the help of their Government, the community covered it up, they delayed investigating'.