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CNN Live Today

America West Pilots Lose Licenses; Hussein's Stepson in Custody

Aired July 04, 2002 - 11:05   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.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Well, they have lost their jobs, and now two America West pilots will lose their licenses. They're charged with being drunk in the cockpit.

Our Susan Candiotti is working that story today in Miami, and also has another story she was trying to tell us about earlier in the last hour. She has both of them for us right now -- Susan, good morning.

SUSAN CANDIOTTI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Daryn. Two stories, both about pilots. However, the two stories are unrelated. First of all, we want to tell you that, as expected, the FAA has revoked the licenses of the two America West pilots who were arrested in Miami earlier this week for allegedly operating a plane while they were drunk.

Now the airline fired these people on Tuesday. At the time, they were -- they were flying a plane, they were taxiing on the highway. It never did take off, but 124 passengers were aboard. An FAA spokesman says that federal rules say that blood alcohol levels can be no higher than .04 and the blood alcohol level of these two pilots tested at more than twice that amount.

Thomas Cloyd and Christopher Hughes, therefore, have had their pilot's licenses revoked. They can appeal their revocations to the National Transportation Safety Board. However, experts say they are unlikely to win.

Now a story about another pilot who is here in Miami, according to the authorities, to seek his pilot recertification. CNN has learned that this man is, indeed, a stepson of Iraqi president Saddam Hussein. His name is Mohammad Saffi. Authorities say that he was traveling to Miami from New Zealand to start a four-day course here at this school where I am here right now called Aerospace, and that he flew into Los Angeles on Monday.

Authorities say he was carrying a New Zealand passport, where he is a naturalized citizen, and where he lives. But that he did not have the required student visa for him to attend this course here in the Miami area. The FBI says that this school is the very same one that is linked to one of the September 11 hijackers, Ziad Jarrah. The FBI says it is unclear about what motives this man may have had -- possibly had, beside attending the school here. Now, Mohammad Saffi is identified as the son of a woman who was married to an Iraqi airline executive. She had an affair with Saddam Hussein, and then, we are told, Hussein asked her husband to divorce her so that he could marry her. Now, a man who says that he was with Mohammad Saffi in a Miami motel last night when he was arrested by the INS and questioned by the FA -- questioned by the FI -- FBI -- excuse me -- said that Saffi's business while here was completely on the up and up.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He is a New Zealand citizen. He is using a New Zealand passport. This is a copy of his passport. The New Zealand passport. That's what the Aeroservice has a copy of it. The Aeroservice has a requirement after September 11 to sign a release letter, or a security form, allow anybody who is not a U.S. citizen to conduct any aircraft landing or similar training within the United States.

Two days later, I've been called, or I had a call from the Aeroservice, they said, OK, you get the green light for Mr. Saffi to come over and do the simulator training.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CANDIOTTI: Now, this school, according to authorities has been cooperating with investigators. The school told investigators that it had checked the background of Mohammad Saffi through a Justice Department Web site that is now required before anyone can enter the country to attend a flight school. However, authorities insist that Saffi did not have a proper student visa, and that is why he is being held. It is possible he could be deported, authorities say, as early as the end of this week. We'll have to wait and see -- Daryn.

KAGAN: Well, Susan, if nothing else, I am glad you put up that graphic where we explained how he ends up to be the stepson of Saddam Hussein, because I think, I am like a lot of Americans waking up today, who knew Saddam Hussein had a stepson, let alone that he could coming here in the country to go to flight school. Incredible.

CANDIOTTI: Well, it is really unclear to investigators at this time about the timing of all of this, and they have a lot of questions to answer.

KAGAN: Absolutely. Susan Candiotti, answering most of our questions there this morning in South Florida. Thank you, Susan.

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