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CNN Sunday Morning

Navy Crew Received Heroes' Welcome

Aired April 15, 2001 - 07:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Whidbey Island Naval Air Station erupted in cheers and tears as family, friends, dignitaries and military brass welcomed their sons and daughters home from an ordeal in China. It was an emotion-packed red, white and blue celebration for the returning crew of a Navy reconnaissance plane downed after a collision with a Chinese jet fighter.

CNN's James Hattori is there this morning. He was there for all the festivities.

James, I can imagine it was quite a time.

JAMES HATTORI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It was indeed, Kyra; good morning.

You know, the crew survived a midair collision, an 8,000-foot plunge from the skies in a plane just like this one, a harrowing emergency landing, seizure by unfriendly forces and detention for 11 days; but this morning the crew of that EP-3 surveillance plane is in more familiar surroundings, having completed the final leg of their 6,00-mile trip from Hainan Island to Whidbey Island.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

HATTORI (voice-over): To the strains of patriotic music and with an eagle soaring above, 24 military heroes arrived home -- survivors of a mission cut short by an accident no one could have predicted.

LT. SHANE OSBORN, PILOT, U.S. NAVY: First of all I'd like to thank God for allowing my crew and myself to be here today because it was definitely him flying that plane. And I'd also like to thank my 23 other crewmates, who -- without them I wouldn't be standing here right now.

HATTORI: It was a military homecoming more intense than most; a reunion heightened by a harrowing landing and 11 days detention in China,

PETTY OFFICER JEREMY CRANDALL, U.S. NAVY: We were tight; you know, we talked to each other, we played cards, stuff like that -- anything to keep up the spirits, you know. And we never let anybody get down.

LT. J.G. RICK PAYNE, U.S. NAVY: The crew remained very calm. Lieutenant Osborn kind of turned around and looked at us, smiled slightly; and nobody showed any emotion at all. We didn't want to have any kind of outburst or anything like that, so we remained very calm, straight-faced through the whole thing just as the entire two weeks had been.

HATTORI: Just hours earlier over breakfast, Nikki Cecka, wife of crewman David Cecka, shared photographs and anticipation with her in- laws.

NIKKI CECKA, WIFE OF CREWMAN: You know, I'll be really happy when it's just, kind of, over. But, yes, it's going to be great (UNINTELLIGIBLE).

HATTORI: And to let her husband again hug their infant son Cameron, who's now two months older than when his dad left.

CECKA: He has doubled in size and tripled in personality.

HATTORI (on camera): What do you think his dad's going to say when he sees him?

CECKA: He's going to go, oh my God, you're huge!

HATTORI (voice-over): We don't know what David Cecka said as he stepped onto the tarmac, but these pictures speak for themselves.

At a ceremony, the crewmembers -- 21 men and three women -- were lauded for their achievements.

REAR ADM. V.E. SMITH, U.S. NAVY: For their extraordinary display of airmanship, cool headwork and excellent crew coordination to your exemplary conduct while held for 11 days in detention, you actions made us all proud to be Americans.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HATTORI: We finally did hear from David Cecka and, of course, you could tell he was very happy to see his family, including his young son. And he did admit that he was terrified for a while during the initial accident and the descent, but he echoed a sentiment that a lot of crewmembers express, and that is that it was their training that saw them through safely.

Kyra, back to you.

PHILLIPS: All right James, thanks so much.

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