HONDURAS/U.S. MANEUVERS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP88-01070R000201030005-9
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 21, 2016
• Document Release Date: October 21, 2008
• Sequence Number: 5
• Publication Date: January 12, 1984
• Content Type: OPEN SOURCE

Approved For Release 2008/10/21: CIA-RDP88-01070R000201030005-9
NBC NIGHTLY NEVIS
12 January 1984
HONDURAS/U.S. BROKAW: Good evening. 'Reckless and unprovoked'--that was just
MANEUVERS one expression from the White House today on the shooting down
of an American Army helicopter on the border between Honduras
and Nicaragua. The pilot was killed, and Nicaragua acknowledged
today that its troops shot down the chopper, but said they did
so only because the helicopter was flying over a battle zone in
Nicaragua's territory. Apparently, the helicopter was blown off
course. But it did manage to land in Honduras, and that's when
the damage was done.
X X X X X X
BROKAW: dm--Fred Francis at the State Department tonight
reports that the administration still will not say publicly that
the helicopter violated Nicaragua airspace.
FRANCIS: The secretary of State said the American helicopter
was apparently off course. Though, he added, that was still
under investigation. However, a spokesman for the Pentagon said
this. MICHAEL BURCH (Pentagon spokesman): We have no
information of any violations of Nicaraguan airspace.
FRANCIS: But the administration does have information that the
helicopter was flying over Nicaragua. Two administration
sources have told NBC News that the surviving crewmen spoke of
25-knot winds dragging them over Nicaraguan guns. One source
said the helicopter was more than a quarter of a mile inside
Nicaragua. The other source confirmed that, saying the poor guy
just got lost. The helicopter was.hit by gunfire while over
Nicaragua. Only then did the pilot realize his error. What has
angered the Reagan administration is that the Nicaraguans
continued to shoot after the pilot's emergency landing in
Honduras. GEORGE SHULTZ (Secretary of State): It's
unacceptable to fire from one country into another country at
people and wind up killing somebody.
FRANCIS: The Nicaraguans have justified their actions. by citing
17 flights by aircraft in that same area since last Sunday, in
support of CIA-sponsored rebels. 'Nicaraguan junta leader Daniel
Ortega said most of those flights violated Nicaraguan airspace.
However, Ortega says, he regrets the death of the American
pilot. DANIEL ORTEGA (Voice of interpreter): We feel the death
of this North American citizen just as we do all the deaths of
the Central Americans, which are caused by the situation.
FRANCIS: An administration official said there will be nothing
more than diplomatic repercussions from our side, but he added
there are 8.000 CIA-sponsored rebels in that area, and the
fighting will continue. Fred Francis, NBC News, the State
Department.
Approved For Release 2008/10/21: CIA-RDP88-01070R000201030005-9