Jet’s Instruments Made Mistake

The Pentagon backed away Sunday from claims that Iraqi radar locked onto a U.S. Air Force F-16 fighter plane in the “no-fly” zone over southern Iraq, causing the pilot to fire a missile at the radar installation.

The statement said instruments aboard the F-16 caused the pilot to believe incorrectly that he had been illuminated by Iraqi radar.

The Pentagon statement did not say how the error occurred, but said the pilot had conducted himself “according to the rules of engagement” when facing such a threat. Radar is used to target an aircraft for a surface-to-air missile.