‘Friendly fire’ pilots stationed in Idaho

American pilots who mistakenly fired on a British convoy during the early days of the U.S. invasion of Iraq were members of the Idaho Air National Guard.

British soldier Lance Cpl. Matty Hull died in the attack.

“The entire Idaho National Guard family extends our deepest sympathies to the family of Lance Corporal Hull and the Coalition Service member who was injured during this unfortunate accident,” Major Gen. Larry Lafrenz, commanding general of the Idaho National Guard, said in a written statement.

“The investigation determined that the incident took place in a complex combat environment and that appropriate procedures and processes for engaging targets were followed,” Lafrenz said. “However, in the uncertainty of a wartime environment, accidents can and do happen.”

The Idaho Air Guard pilots were flying an A-10 plane.

Video of the March 28, 2003, friendly fire incident was recently leaked in Britain. The video shows the pilots questioning whether the vehicles underneath them are “friendlies” because of orange panels on top. Ground staff tells them no allied troops are in the vicinity, and the pilots conclude the panels must be rocket launchers.

When the pilots discover they have fired on allied troops, they can be heard weeping and cursing. Names of the pilots have not been released.