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CNN Live At Daybreak
Latest on Crash of Black Hawk Helicopter in New York
Aired March 12, 2003 - 05:10 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.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: And now the latest on the crash of a Black Hawk helicopter in upstate New York. An investigation is under way to find out what caused the chopper to go down during a routine training mission Tuesday afternoon. A memorial service honoring the victims is planned for today.
CNN's Jason Carroll has more from Fort Drum, New York.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JASON CARROLL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Military investigators here at Fort Drum are in the process of trying to determine exactly what caused the crash of that Black Hawk. Thirteen soldiers were on board. Two survived. Eleven are feared dead.
(voice-over): According to an Army spokesperson, this helicopter was on a routine training mission. These helicopters are commonly known as the work horses of the U.S. military, commonly used for transporting. You're looking at an example of what a Black Hawk looks like.
Again, it was a routine training mission. Then at about 2:00 radio contact was lost. At about 3:30 rescue crews spotted the wreckage from that aircraft just north of the base. They also reported seeing at least one soldier wandering around the crash site. The commander of the base came out, addressed the media and sent a message to the soldiers and their families.
MAJ. GEN. BUSTER HAGENBECK: I would like to extend my condolences to the families of our fallen comrades and I want to assure you that we will fully investigate this terrible accident.
CARROLL: (on camera): Already, some 1,000 soldiers from Fort Drum have been deployed to the Middle East for a potential war with Iraq. A military spokesperson talked about how the tragedy here at home will have an effect on morale.
LT. COL. BRYAN HILFERTY, PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICER: We keep going and doing what we have to do. I mean we're here, soldiers on point for the nation. We call ourselves prepared in peace, invincible in war. We just have to keep doing that. We can't -- we'll mourn our comrades, but we'll just keep doing what we do to help keep America safe for democracy.
CARROLL: As for the investigation, a military spokesperson says there was no early indication that something was wrong before radio contact was lost with the Black Hawk helicopter. Jason Carroll, CNN, Fort Drum, New York.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WHITFIELD: More about this story on our Web site, including an interactive look at the Black Hawk and other combat aircraft. It's all at cnn.com. The AOL keyword is CNN.
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 March 12, 2003 - 05:10 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: And now the latest on the crash of a Black Hawk helicopter in upstate New York. An investigation is under way to find out what caused the chopper to go down during a routine training mission Tuesday afternoon. A memorial service honoring the victims is planned for today.
CNN's Jason Carroll has more from Fort Drum, New York.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JASON CARROLL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Military investigators here at Fort Drum are in the process of trying to determine exactly what caused the crash of that Black Hawk. Thirteen soldiers were on board. Two survived. Eleven are feared dead.
(voice-over): According to an Army spokesperson, this helicopter was on a routine training mission. These helicopters are commonly known as the work horses of the U.S. military, commonly used for transporting. You're looking at an example of what a Black Hawk looks like.
Again, it was a routine training mission. Then at about 2:00 radio contact was lost. At about 3:30 rescue crews spotted the wreckage from that aircraft just north of the base. They also reported seeing at least one soldier wandering around the crash site. The commander of the base came out, addressed the media and sent a message to the soldiers and their families.
MAJ. GEN. BUSTER HAGENBECK: I would like to extend my condolences to the families of our fallen comrades and I want to assure you that we will fully investigate this terrible accident.
CARROLL: (on camera): Already, some 1,000 soldiers from Fort Drum have been deployed to the Middle East for a potential war with Iraq. A military spokesperson talked about how the tragedy here at home will have an effect on morale.
LT. COL. BRYAN HILFERTY, PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICER: We keep going and doing what we have to do. I mean we're here, soldiers on point for the nation. We call ourselves prepared in peace, invincible in war. We just have to keep doing that. We can't -- we'll mourn our comrades, but we'll just keep doing what we do to help keep America safe for democracy.
CARROLL: As for the investigation, a military spokesperson says there was no early indication that something was wrong before radio contact was lost with the Black Hawk helicopter. Jason Carroll, CNN, Fort Drum, New York.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WHITFIELD: More about this story on our Web site, including an interactive look at the Black Hawk and other combat aircraft. It's all at cnn.com. The AOL keyword is CNN.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
