Pubdate: Mon, 23 Apr 2001 Source: CNN (US Web) Show: CNN Live At Daybreak Section: News, International Copyright: 2001 Cable News Network, Inc. Contact: http://www.cnn.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/65 Host: Colleen McEdwards Guest: Michael Loftis, president of the Association of Baptists for World Evangelism Note: Transcript # 01042302V73 PRESIDENT OF EVANGELICAL GROUP DISCUSSES KILLING OF MISSIONARY OVER PERU COLLEEN MCEDWARDS, CNN ANCHOR: Investigators in Peru are sorting out details in the crash of a U.S. missionary plane. The plane was mistaken for a drug trafficker's and was shot down Friday by the Peruvian air force, killing an American missionary and her daughter. The military was working with information from a CIA surveillance plane. Veronica Bowers and her seven-month-old daughter died in that incident. She and her husband were working for the Association of Baptists for World Evangelism. The group's president is Michael Loftis. He joins us now from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, to talk more about this. Mr. Loftis, thanks for being here. I know that the Peruvian government has said that the crew did not have a flight plan and that there was no way it could identify this plane as part of your organization. We know now there was a flight plan. In fact, CNN's David Ensor held up a copy of that flight plan just a few minutes ago, on our air, a copy that he'd obtained. But maybe you can explain whether or not the crew had any contact with any tower, and whether or not that plane was marked in any way. MICHAEL LOFTIS, ASSOCIATION OF BAPTISTS FOR WORLD EVANGELISM: Yes, the plane was clearly marked with serial numbers. It had recently been repainted, Colleen, and the pilot was, as we understand it -- we've debriefed him since his return from Peru -- in contact with the tower in Iquitos. In fact, he was in contact with the tower at the time the shooting began. MCEDWARDS: How did the pilot describe the shooting? What did he tell you happened? LOFTIS: He was in contact with Iquitos, and they were discussing his landing slot, according to his previously filed flight plan, when these air force planes came around. They circled the plane once and then began firing. There was never an opportunity for him to follow their wiggling wings or any of those things. And he was, from the very first moment of the shooting, doing his best to save the lives of his passengers. That plane was used at times as an air ambulance, and though it was not able to complete this flight, we're very grateful to God, this morning, that our pilot, Kevin, was able to use it one last time to save some more lives. MCEDWARDS: And what are your pilots and your personnel told to do to prevent this kind of thing from happening? LOFTIS: Of course, our pilots are very well trained and certified, and they follow very clearly laid-out procedures. And Kevin did that in this case, and we're very satisfied that he followed a standard operating procedure. He was not flying in an unknown area. He had flown this route many times with this plane, and it was a very familiar and routine flying route. MCEDWARDS: What, if anything, do you plan to do? Does your organization plan to take any action, at this point? LOFTIS: We're still awaiting final reports from both our governments. Their investigations continue. They have yet to be able to interview the pilot. He underwent surgery last night, and we're still awaiting those reports today. MCEDWARDS: The United States, according to David Ensor this morning, is now saying that it asked the Peruvians to be careful, not to move too quickly, not to shoot at this plane before it was absolutely sure, and I'd like to get your reaction to that. LOFTIS: We have no direct knowledge of all the communications that took place between that plane and the Peruvians'. We're very grateful, if that took place, that there was that attempt. And we're very sorry for the tragic mistake that was made at this time. We also feel that there's another aspect of this story that needs to be told: that our pilot and our missionary Jim Bowers, who lost his wife, would like people to know that they're very grateful for the Peruvian people along the riverbanks who came out in canoes to save their lives from that sinking plane. MCEDWARDS: And Mr. Loftis, what would you like people to know about Veronica Bowers and her daughter Charity? LOFTIS: We have a statement this morning from her husband, Jim. He and his son Cory would like to thank all of those who have prayed for them, and above all, today, they want to be sure that we honor God and honor Ronnie's work, ministry, and the sacrifice she made for the God she served and for the people in Peru, whom she loved very much. MCEDWARDS: All right, Michael Loftis, thanks very much for your time this morning. We appreciate it. - --- MAP posted-by: Beth