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CNN Live Today

Debris Recovery

Aired February 03, 2003 - 10:20   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.


LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: Search crews on horseback and in four- wheel drive vehicles are out, fanning out over a large swathe of Texas and Louisiana this morning, as they have been for the past 48 hours or so.
Global positioning systems are being used to track the debris field of wreckage, and to create maps that could lead to the discovery of more pieces.

CNN's Maria Hinojosa is in the Texas town of Hemphill. That's near the Louisiana border, and she checks in now live.

Maria, I understand, you've just left a briefing there?

MARIA HINOJOSA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Leon, I'm sorry, you're breaking up in my ear, but I hear you're throwing to me. We're in Hemphill, Texas. We've just been debriefed by the local officials about the developments here, and what we can tell you, the biggest news right now is that they will send divers into Toledo Bend Reservoir, where they believe that a large piece of debris, the size of small compact car, was perhaps sighted.

With me now is Sheriff Tom Maddox, who is here in Hemphill, Texas.

Sheriff, tell us what you know about what you will be doing today at the Toledo Bend Reservoir?

SHERIFF TOMMY MADDOX, SABINE COUNTY, TEXAS: Well, we have brought in -- there are several dive teams there that have been brought in. There are a lot of people there that will be using their boats, and of course, we'll use aerial searches there also to look for debris around the water.

HINOJOSA: People have been talking about the piece of debris the size of a small compact car, but you have yet to speak to the person who saw this. What is the plan there?

MADDOX: Well, you know, officers have spoken to this person. He identified where it went down, you know, readings there were taken to possibly pinpoint where we think this went in. The only problem there that we are running into and debris when it hits water, if you ever dropped a nickel or anything into the water, what ends up happening after it hits that surface, it can end up a long way from where it actually went in.

So this probably is one of the problems there that we're look looking at today, is that yes, we have identification there where it in, we do know the person there that saw this object there go into the water.

We will be talking back with him again, going over the readings there that we took at that particular time. And anyway, then if whatever is needed there to aid in that search there...

HINOJOSA: So you will be sending divers. Will you be sending them with sonar equipment as well today?

MADDOX: Well, you know, the boats there are equipped, first of all, with underwater cameras. They're equipped with sonar, and whatever other equipment there that -- there is more there that are available, better and more sophisticated equipment than what is on here, and if NASA there does think that it -- we need to use that, then that will be available.

HINOJOSA: Thank you so much. That's Sheriff Tom Maddox here in Hemphill, Texas. We also know that between 100 to 300 National Guards have been called up to help continue on the foot search. We're talking about who are going into the Sabine National Forest, so while there will be some movement into the Toledo Bend National Reservoir to look for this large piece, this very large piece of debris, they will also continue on the foot searches.

Back to you.

HARRIS: Good deal. Thank you, Maria. Maria Hinojosa, reporting live for us from Hemphill, Texas.

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







Aired February 3, 2003 - 10:20   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: Search crews on horseback and in four- wheel drive vehicles are out, fanning out over a large swathe of Texas and Louisiana this morning, as they have been for the past 48 hours or so.
Global positioning systems are being used to track the debris field of wreckage, and to create maps that could lead to the discovery of more pieces.

CNN's Maria Hinojosa is in the Texas town of Hemphill. That's near the Louisiana border, and she checks in now live.

Maria, I understand, you've just left a briefing there?

MARIA HINOJOSA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Leon, I'm sorry, you're breaking up in my ear, but I hear you're throwing to me. We're in Hemphill, Texas. We've just been debriefed by the local officials about the developments here, and what we can tell you, the biggest news right now is that they will send divers into Toledo Bend Reservoir, where they believe that a large piece of debris, the size of small compact car, was perhaps sighted.

With me now is Sheriff Tom Maddox, who is here in Hemphill, Texas.

Sheriff, tell us what you know about what you will be doing today at the Toledo Bend Reservoir?

SHERIFF TOMMY MADDOX, SABINE COUNTY, TEXAS: Well, we have brought in -- there are several dive teams there that have been brought in. There are a lot of people there that will be using their boats, and of course, we'll use aerial searches there also to look for debris around the water.

HINOJOSA: People have been talking about the piece of debris the size of a small compact car, but you have yet to speak to the person who saw this. What is the plan there?

MADDOX: Well, you know, officers have spoken to this person. He identified where it went down, you know, readings there were taken to possibly pinpoint where we think this went in. The only problem there that we are running into and debris when it hits water, if you ever dropped a nickel or anything into the water, what ends up happening after it hits that surface, it can end up a long way from where it actually went in.

So this probably is one of the problems there that we're look looking at today, is that yes, we have identification there where it in, we do know the person there that saw this object there go into the water.

We will be talking back with him again, going over the readings there that we took at that particular time. And anyway, then if whatever is needed there to aid in that search there...

HINOJOSA: So you will be sending divers. Will you be sending them with sonar equipment as well today?

MADDOX: Well, you know, the boats there are equipped, first of all, with underwater cameras. They're equipped with sonar, and whatever other equipment there that -- there is more there that are available, better and more sophisticated equipment than what is on here, and if NASA there does think that it -- we need to use that, then that will be available.

HINOJOSA: Thank you so much. That's Sheriff Tom Maddox here in Hemphill, Texas. We also know that between 100 to 300 National Guards have been called up to help continue on the foot search. We're talking about who are going into the Sabine National Forest, so while there will be some movement into the Toledo Bend National Reservoir to look for this large piece, this very large piece of debris, they will also continue on the foot searches.

Back to you.

HARRIS: Good deal. Thank you, Maria. Maria Hinojosa, reporting live for us from Hemphill, Texas.

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