If You're Listening When Iraq accidentally bombed a U.S. warship
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Mar 30, 2026 A deep dive into the 1987 missile strike on a U.S. warship and how it happened amid the Iran–Iraq war. The story explores Iraq converting civilian jets into reconnaissance and attack planes. Listeners learn about battlefield mistakes, diplomatic fallout, and unexpected aircraft trajectories after the conflict.
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Susanna The Civilian Jet That Fired On USS Stark
- The USS Stark was struck by missiles fired from an Iraqi-modified civilian Falcon 50 called Susanna, killing 37 sailors in 1987.
- Iraq had converted the business jet with a Mirage nosecone and Exocet-capable fittings to secretly perform reconnaissance and strike missions.
How Iraq Turned A Business Jet Into A Fighter Proxy
- Iraq weaponised a civilian Falcon 50 by adding a Cyrano nosecone and Mirage fighter controls so it could mimic a military jet for training and surprise attacks.
- The plane kept a civilian appearance to avoid air defences while carrying missiles and a patched fighter cockpit.
A Mistake That Brought No Penalty And More Intel
- Iraq claimed the strike on USS Stark was a mistake, saying the crew thought the frigate was an oil tanker, and Washington accepted the apology.
- The outcome gave Iraq little consequence and actually increased US intelligence sharing, benefiting Iraq diplomatically.