Return to Transcripts main page

CNN Live Today

Tapes from Teenage Terror Plane Crash Released

Aired April 22, 2002 - 13:44   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: Air traffic control tapes from January's suicide plane crash into a Tampa, Florida, office building are now made public.

CNN's Patty Davis is in Washington, with more on what those tapes reveal.

What do they say -- Patty.

PATTY DAVIS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Kyra, what those tapes show is a dramatic attempt by a Coast Guard helicopter to intercept the plane being flown by 15-year-old Charles Bishop.

He had stolen the plane, a single engine Cessna, from the Clearwater/ St. Peterburg Airport, and he was headed towards downtown Tampa. As you can see, he smashed into the Bank of America high-rise, killing himself.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Tampa tower Coast Guard, 6013.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Coast Guard 6013.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Sir, we are currently (UNINTELLIGIBLE) a single Cessna, November 2371 November. Been advised he could pull out from St. Pete -- it's a 15-year-old student, took off with unauthorized clearance. We are trying to get him hand signals to get him to land; however, he doesn't seem to be responding. And we may impede on your airspace here, sir.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Coast Guard 6013 (UNINTELLIGIBLE), your radar contact (UNINTELLIGIBLE) 3015.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: 3015.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Two-zero November, turn left, heading 080, and report the east-west runway side.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Tampa.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

DAVIS: That siren indicating that Bishop's plane had crashed, the emergency locater signal.

He did leave a suicide note; it was in praise of Osama bin Laden and the September 11 hijackings, but authorities say that Bishop acted alone, that they believe he was, indeed, suicidal and had no connection to those terrorist attacks -- Kyra.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com