[Poohbah]

Because it was flying an American flag.

Ever try to identify a flag 1,000 feet away while zipping past it at eight miles per minute?

[quietolong]

I served 10 years in the VP community. (P-3 patrol aircraft) I know what ships look like from the air and How they are identified. Also being a private pilot. I know how pilots fly. And being raised in the Wisconsin deer woods. I know about “ Buck Fever

First even at 8 miles/min. more than enough time to get a good look. But the identifying aircraft were not doing that speed. More like 150-200 Kt.

And what flag the ship flies is the last thing you look at when “rigging a ship”

FOI P-3s when on station fly at 200 ft. 200 Kts

You look at the ship construction and configuration. And then see if that matches the name and flag that should go to it.

So even if it hadn’t been identified by a flying boxcar earlier. And the first attacking aircraft didn’t get a good look before it started it’s run. The following flights have plenty of time to get a good look. Plus there going to be doing battle assessment. To see were weapons hit ( Good shooting you hit right by that big dish antenna)

One thing is for sure! The attack was no accident!
You know How you can tell a unmarked Police car from a mile away. When your driving down the road. Sort of the same thing. And you don’t have “Arab Fever” for 30, 20, 15 or even 10 Min.