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CNN Live At Daybreak
War in Iraq: CENTCOM Update
Aired March 24, 2003 - 05:49 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.
ANDERSON COOPER, CNN ANCHOR: And we are anticipating a CENTCOM briefing at 9:00 a.m. that of course CNN will bring to you live.
But just for an update, let's go to Tom Mintier who is in Doha, Qatar at CENTCOM Command headquarters.
Tom, what do you have?
TOM MINTIER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Anderson, the pictures we've all seen from Iraqi television of the Apache helicopter on the ground, they have also been watching those images here at CENTCOM headquarters. They do admit to losing one Apache helicopter, but no word on the crew. They say only one Apache is unaccounted for, not two as we've seen on television.
Also, some British troops are missing in Southern Iraq.
Joining us now to talk about that is Group Captain Al Lockwood.
Captain Lockwood, any update on the missing two from last night?
CAPTAIN AL LOCKWOOD, BRITISH CENTCOM SPOKESMAN: None whatsoever, Tom. They are still listed as missing and we're actively searching for them.
MINTIER: And also, the Tornado crew that is still listed as missing, you have not recovered them yet?
LOCKWOOD: No, sorry, the Tornado crew are still missing.
MINTIER: You watched these pictures of the Apache helicopter down. Your take on the fact that they found the helmets but they say that they have captured pilots but have not shown them so far. Is it possible these pilots were picked up by other helicopters in the area?
LOCKWOOD: I hope very much so. Apaches tend to hunt in packs and there's a very good chance if it came down. There doesn't appear to be any sign of military activity in the area and there certainly doesn't appear on the external, the pictures I've seen, externally to have been any signs of damage to the aircraft. Possibly we're looking at some sort of failure, mechanical failure, and possibly the pilots have successfully or the crew successfully been picked up, and I very much hope so.
MINTIER: Is it normal procedure when you come down in a hard landing like that to take your helmet out, off, leave it behind when you evacuate the aircraft? LOCKWOOD: I don't know, Tom. I really don't know. I'm not an Apache pilot. They will have procedures. There may have been something they were following, they were doing; but obviously at this stage the helmets are there but there is no sign of the crew.
MINTIER: All right, Captain Lockwood, thank you very much.
Again, we will be having a briefing later on this afternoon here at CENTCOM. Hopefully we will get some answers about that Apache helicopter and its crew from officials here at CENTCOM headquarters. Now back to you.
COOPER: All right. Tom Mintier, thanks very much.
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 24, 2003 - 05:49 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
ANDERSON COOPER, CNN ANCHOR: And we are anticipating a CENTCOM briefing at 9:00 a.m. that of course CNN will bring to you live.
But just for an update, let's go to Tom Mintier who is in Doha, Qatar at CENTCOM Command headquarters.
Tom, what do you have?
TOM MINTIER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Anderson, the pictures we've all seen from Iraqi television of the Apache helicopter on the ground, they have also been watching those images here at CENTCOM headquarters. They do admit to losing one Apache helicopter, but no word on the crew. They say only one Apache is unaccounted for, not two as we've seen on television.
Also, some British troops are missing in Southern Iraq.
Joining us now to talk about that is Group Captain Al Lockwood.
Captain Lockwood, any update on the missing two from last night?
CAPTAIN AL LOCKWOOD, BRITISH CENTCOM SPOKESMAN: None whatsoever, Tom. They are still listed as missing and we're actively searching for them.
MINTIER: And also, the Tornado crew that is still listed as missing, you have not recovered them yet?
LOCKWOOD: No, sorry, the Tornado crew are still missing.
MINTIER: You watched these pictures of the Apache helicopter down. Your take on the fact that they found the helmets but they say that they have captured pilots but have not shown them so far. Is it possible these pilots were picked up by other helicopters in the area?
LOCKWOOD: I hope very much so. Apaches tend to hunt in packs and there's a very good chance if it came down. There doesn't appear to be any sign of military activity in the area and there certainly doesn't appear on the external, the pictures I've seen, externally to have been any signs of damage to the aircraft. Possibly we're looking at some sort of failure, mechanical failure, and possibly the pilots have successfully or the crew successfully been picked up, and I very much hope so.
MINTIER: Is it normal procedure when you come down in a hard landing like that to take your helmet out, off, leave it behind when you evacuate the aircraft? LOCKWOOD: I don't know, Tom. I really don't know. I'm not an Apache pilot. They will have procedures. There may have been something they were following, they were doing; but obviously at this stage the helmets are there but there is no sign of the crew.
MINTIER: All right, Captain Lockwood, thank you very much.
Again, we will be having a briefing later on this afternoon here at CENTCOM. Hopefully we will get some answers about that Apache helicopter and its crew from officials here at CENTCOM headquarters. Now back to you.
COOPER: All right. Tom Mintier, thanks very much.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
