Cockpit video footage of the attack in which a British soldier was killed by friendly fire in Iraq reveals the US pilots saying: “God dammit! We’re in jail, dude.”

The film, obtained by The Sun newspaper, shows the pilots of two American A-10 tankbuster planes gloating over the raid until they realised that the troops they had attacked were British, not Iraqi.

The footage, shot by Americans, has been at the centre of a diplomatic row between the British and US defence departments after a coroner last week demanded that it should be shown at the inquest of Lance-Corporal of Horse Matty Hull, 25, from Windsor, Berkshire. He died in the incident near Basra, southern Iraq, on March 28, 2003. Four members of his troop, the Household Cavalry Regiment, were injured in the attack on the armoured column.

Last Friday Andrew Walker, the Oxford Coroner, said that he had no choice but to delay his verdict until the video recording of the incident was produced by the Government.

The Ministry of Defence said that it is a classified US document and that they cannot override the classification. The Sun said that it had been passed a copy which it said last night was being posted on its website.

On the video clip, one pilot — call sign POPOV36 — appears to boast about the attack on the two Scimitar light tanks and two Spartan armoured personnel carriers.

The second pilot — call sign POPOV35 — encourages him by saying: “Get him, get him.”

As a foot soldier drags a comrade away from the burning vehicles, he added: “It looks like he is hauling ass. Ha ha.”

A second volley of fire is directed at the armoured vehicles, 98 seconds after the first. The pilots are then told the truth of who they hit.

POPOV35, who is thought to be a Major, says: “We’re in jail dude.” POPOV36, thought to be a Lieutenant-Colonel, cries as they return to base: “God dammit. F*** me dead.”

The newspaper says that the footage reveals a total of six errors before and during the attack. They include poor communication with the Forward Air Controller, a misjudgement of the the vehicles’ identifications markings and confusion with artillery on the ground.

The British troops were in an area where US aircraft should not have been operating. They were displaying orange overhead identification panels, thermal reflectors and British flags.

Last night the MoD — which had initially denied the existence of the tape — said that it was unclear whether an investigation would be held into how the film was released.

A spokeswoman added: “A copy of the video was used as evidence by the Board of Inquiry’s investigation into the incident. This recording is the property of the United States Government and the MoD does not have the right to release it without their permission. There has never been any intention to deliberately deceive or mislead the family.”

Speaking after last week’s adjournment of the inquest, Susan Hull, the widow of the soldier, said that she was “not surprised but very disappointed”.

Captain Alexander MacEwen, who was leading the troop when it was hit and suffered burns and shrapnel wounds in the incident, said that the Americans should be brought to account. He said: “I believe that if they are brought to the inquest or made to give evidence, it will make them think twice about their actions in the future.”

The Sun last night quoted a senior US military source who said that the tape should be shown. “It was amateur hour up there, it’s that simple,” he reportedly said. “Most of our guys are very skilled at what they do. But when they’re not, we need to recognise that, not hide it.”

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