Pubdate: Tue, 24 Apr 2001
Source: Chattanooga Times & Free Press (TN)
Copyright: 2001 Chattanooga Publishing Co.
Contact:  http://www.timesfreepress.com/index.html
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/992

TRAGEDY IN PERU

Missionaries in many places in South America must rely upon small aircraft 
that land on rivers and unpaved runways as they minister to the people in 
otherwise impenetrable jungles.

Providing a sharp contrast, drug dealers making millions of dollars through 
illicit traffic with foolish Americans use aircraft to transport their wares.

Sometimes it is difficult in flight to determine the difference, as a 
horrible incident in Peru has fatally demonstrated.

A small pontoon aircraft was carrying Baptist missionaries on an accustomed 
route a few days ago when it encountered a drug-monitoring aircraft under 
contract to the U.S. CIA. The monitor called the missionary plane to the 
attention of Peruvian military pilots. The missionaries said they had filed 
a flight plan, as was customary. They said they tried to make radio contact 
with the other aircraft. The CIA monitor reportedly urged the Peruvians not 
to attack without certainty that drugs were involved. The Peruvians claimed 
there was no flight plan or radio contact. They fired with terrible results.

One bullet killed missionary wife Roni Bowers and her infant daughter, 
Charity, in her lap. Wounded pilot Kevin Donaldson miraculously brought the 
aircraft to a capsizing landing in a river. Missionary Jim Bowers and his 
6-year-old son, Cory, escaped uninjured.

It was a terrible tragedy as missionaries doing good were mistaken for drug 
dealers doing evil.
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MAP posted-by: Jo-D