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CNN Live Today

Passenger Plane From Paris Diverted to Scottish Airport; English Only?

Aired April 12, 2006 - 11:33   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR A couple of stories just in to us here at CNN. First, out of Alexandria, Virginia, we're getting word that the prosecution has now rested its case in the Zacarias Moussaoui trial. This is the penalty phase, where the jury must decide if he gets the death penalty or he spends the rest of his life in jail or in prison. Earlier, we heard from Kelli Arena who talked about the playing of different tapes, audio tapes, in the courtroom today. A very emotional day as the prosecution rested its case in the Zacarias Moussaoui trial.
Earlier, we were following the story of a plane diverted with a large number of passengers, diverted to Scotland.

With more on that, let's go to Paula Newton, who's in our London bureau -- Paula.

PAULA NEWTON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello.

It seems that what happened here, there was an Orion Air flight with 172 passengers from Paris on its way to Dublin, Ireland. It was diverted to Glasgow, Scotland, and it was escorted into that airport by two Royal Air Force military jets. What we know so far, at least what the airline, Orion Air, is really, is that saying that a note was passed to the crew, saying that there was a bomb on board. At that point, when the crew alerted the U.K. transport department, they were told to divert to the Glasgow Airport. There was a 25-mile exclusion zone surrounding that flight. It landed without incident; 172 passengers disembarked. They're now in the terminal at that airport near Glasgow. They are all being question. And so far it doesn't seem that they have anymore clues as to who would have passed along that note or what it's all about.

KAGAN: All right, Paula. And actually I'm getting more information just as you were talking, we're getting this word -- actually we will actually get more on that in just a bit.

Paula Newton live there from London. More on that plane that was diverted from Paris -- going from Paris to Dublin has been diverted to Scotland.

(NEWSBREAK)

KAGAN: Some states actually already do have English-only laws on the books. Here now a Fact Check.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Twenty-seven states now have some form of English-only legislation. A spearhead of the movement is the Washington-based group U.S. English Incorporated. Founded in 1983, the group says it's the nation's oldest organization, dedicated, in its words, to preserving the unifying role of the English language in the United States. Immigrant and California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger is a member of the U.S. English Advisory Board.

Other celebrities on the board are actor Charlton Heston, and golfer Arnold Palmer and former Defense Secretary Jim Schlesinger. U.S. English isn't limiting its efforts just to the state level. It's mounted a campaign on Capitol Hill to pass a law making English the official language of the United States. U.S. English and a similar group called Pro-English argue that English as official-language laws will help immigrants learn English, and thus succeed in this country.

The American Civil Liberties Union and other critics say English- only laws do nothing more than discriminate against and punish those who have not learned English.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KAGAN: And we'll take a closer look at this issue both sides on CNN's "LIVE FROM." The Ohio lawmaker who authored the English-only bill, also a critic who thinks it's a dumb idea.

Well, this is -- speaking of questionable logic, this for you parents out there, you might be saying, what were they thinking, calling in sick to get a day off of work. Well, that's not too bad. It happens. But how about faking your child's obituary for a few days off. I know, unbelievable, but police in Waterloo, Iowa says it actually happened. And they say James Schneider and Mary Jo Jenson placed a newspaper obituary for the Jensen's 17-year-old son. Later that week, people saw the teen at a restaurant and called authorities. The couple now faces charges.

And then there's this story about six babies, their tragic story prompted people to open their hearts and wallets. So why is the Missouri couple being hounded? After all, they say all six of their newborn babies are critically ill. Well, they say the devil is in the details.

And we get that story now from Dana Wright with our affiliate KCTV in Kansas City.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DANA WRIGHT, KCTV REPORTER (voice-over): Look closely. There's something missing in this photo of Sarah and Chris Everson boasting the arrival of six babies.

(on camera): Can you tell me why did you this? Why did do you this, ma'am? What do you have to say to the people that donated money for your babies that don't exist?

Ma'am do you have anything to say? Anything to say to the volunteers who helped you?

(voice-over): The Eversons didn't want to talk with their arrest on charges they faked sextuplets to score community donations, but police say their plot unraveled fast after the large article in "The Independence Examiner." In it, Sarah says of the pregnancy, quote, "I had bruises from being kicked," and tells the reporter the birth certificates were being held by a judge as part of a gag order. She says the babies are in "serious, critical condition," and then asks for donations.

This local real estate agent tried to help the couple secure cash and gift cards. Police say he and other volunteers are devastated.

(on camera): I guess that's my question. Did not anyone ever think it was strange they never saw the babies?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You know, I don't know. I wasn't involved with them, but apparently they were very convincing. And we do have people like that and unfortunately, they take advantage of the system.

WRIGHT: What do you make of all of this, now there aren't any babies?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Just, you know, shock. I can't -- I really can't believe it. I never thought that it would really be fraud.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KAGAN: According to KCTV, police say the couple confessed to the scam and could be charged as early as today.

Once again, we're watching Alexandria, Virginia. The prosecution has rested in the Zacarias Moussaoui trial. The jury soon will have the chance to decide finally whether Zacarias Moussaoui will get the death penalty or spend the rest of his life in prison. On that note, we're asking are movie audiences ready to relive the horror of 9/11?

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think it's too soon for that.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I definitely don't want to see it.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KAGAN: Two studios are betting against those movie-goers. That story is ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAGAN: Live to Alexandria, Virginia. This is Hamilton Peterson. His father and stepmother died aboard United Flight 93 on 9/11. Let's listen in.

HAMILTON PETERSON, RELATIVE OF 2 FLIGHT 93 VICTIMS: ... the brutality and the complexity of the conspiracy, that in a matter of moments, these brave Americans overcame a horrific challenge.

QUESTION: In listening to that, your father was on that plane and stepmother, did it all come back? What was going through your heart at this time?

PETERSON: What was going through my heart is that this is an example of ordinary citizens stepping up to the plate on a moment's notice and protecting the United States capital from a terrorist attack.

QUESTION: What about the quality of the recording? Was this better or worse than the ones that you've heard?

PETERSON: Well, first of all, the United States Attorney's Office, including Karen Spinx (ph), the victim witness coordinator, have been outstanding. They did play for us with headsets, amplified headsets, the recording you heard today. Certainly, for understandable, practical reasons, you're at a disadvantage, not hearing with the clarity we did the voices.

QUESTION: What did you hear that we couldn't make out in the courtroom today?

PETERSON: What I heard was at least two people in what are likely their final moments pleading for their lives, recognizing they were going to die. Later on in the tape, you can hear an individual of a foreign language being attacked or killed by the passenger and crew. I surmise that he was guarding the cockpit door from the outside.

What was also clear, having heard it on headsets, was that at least two terrorists inside the cockpit had foolishly and mistakenly believed that, by holding the axe, the fire axe, up to the inside people that it might intimidate quote, "all of those guys" who were charging the cockpit from the outside.

QUESTION: (INAUDIBLE) would you want to see Moussaoui spend the rest of his life in prison or be put to death?

PETERSON: I would like to see the jury system do the right thing. I do not like the martyrdom issue. We heard the same thing with respect to Tim McVeigh. We heard the same thing with respect to the CIA assassin, all being martyred. They have both been executed and I have not seen any buildings going up in Saudi Arabia with the CIA assassin's name on it. So I do not have belief in the martyrdom argument.

QUESTION: You would rather he spend the rest of his life in prison?

PETERSON: No, I believe the appropriate sentence here is death, but that's for the jury to determine.

QUESTION: The prosecution has now rested its case. Overall, what do you think of the case they made here? Will it be enough to persuade this jury? PETERSON: I think the prosecutors here did an outstanding job. They also have surrendered their lives since 9/11, 2001, as have the victim witness staff. They've been working 24/7 and I would venture to say that they have impacted by 9/11 as much as some of the victims' families have.

QUESTION: (INAUDIBLE) the strength of their case?

PETERSON: Excellent.

QUESTION: (INAUDIBLE) therapeutic benefit to these families for coming back here one more time?

PETERSON: I think Judge Brinkema is doing her best. And while you all will receive the transcripts, you will not hear the tremors and the intimacy of the voices that we heard through the amplified headsets. And some day I hope the audiotape is released. I fully respect and understand why certain family members may not want it to be released and that's their call.

And I think that's about it.

QUESTION: (INAUDIBLE)

PETERSON: I thought the Universal movie, "United 93," is amazingly accurate and I think you all will, too, when you see the movie. You'll see that technically, they have done their homework and their research. And that movie, to me, gives a satisfactory depiction of our relatives on that flight. Thank you.

KAGAN: So that was Hamilton Peterson. His father and stepmother were on board United Flight 93. Both died on board that, along with everybody else who was on board. We had a chance to talk with him last week and he shared with us many things that he just said outside the courtroom today. He is in favor of the death penalty for Zacarias Moussaoui, but he respects those who have a different point of view and he doesn't think that that would turn the only person who has been charged with the 9/11 crime here in the U.S. into a martyr.

The reason this is news today and the reason he is outside that courthouse in Alexandria, Virginia, today the prosecution has rested its case against Zacarias Moussaoui. But before that they played the cockpit recorder tape from what took place on board United Flight 93 and they played that in the courtroom for the jury. Hamilton Peterson had had a chance to see that and listen to that tape before. But it was a very emotional day, as what happened on board United Flight 93 was replayed inside of that courtroom in Alexandria, Virginia.

He also mentioned another topic that we're talking about that is this movie about United Flight 93. There are trailers of this movie that are being played in movie theaters across the country, and some people say that it's too soon, that they shouldn't be making this movie. You heard Hamilton Peterson say he think it's a good idea, that they've done a good job with the movie, but are movie-goers ready?

Brooke Anderson now looks at that. This is a story that first aired on CNN's "PAULA ZAHN NOW."

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP, "UNITED 93")

UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR: I am on a plane that has been hijacked.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BROOKE ANDERSON, CNN CULTURE AND ENTERTAINMENT CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The trailer for Universal Pictures' "United 93" comes with a familiar notice: The following preview has been approved for all audiences. But not all audiences approve of it.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I could see how some people would find it offensive.

ANDERSON: In New York, enough patrons complained that one theater pulled the trailer temporarily.

PAUL DERGARABEDIAN, PRESIDENT, EXHIBITOR RELATIONS: Usually, people have no idea what trailers are going to show before a movie. So, if a trailer for "United 93" comes on the screen, it is pretty much a surprise to everyone. For some audience members, it is just, I think, a -- a little shocking to them.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP, "UNITED 93")

UNIDENTIFIED ACTRESS: CNN is reporting a light civil aircraft has just hit the World Trade Center.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: The film depicts the hijacking of the flight on 9/11 and the passenger uprising before the plane's crash in Pennsylvania.

In a statement, Universal said, "This film gives audiences a chance to confront events and issues surrounding a day that is seared into our national memory, and its trailer honestly reflects that."

The statement did not address whether it was appropriate to show the trailer to people who weren't expecting it. Universal declined CNN's request for an interview.

PETER GUBER, CO-HOST, "SUNDAY MORNING SHOOTOUT": I think the marketing department, by definition, has to be sensitive to these issues.

ANDERSON: Producer and former studio chief Peter Guber, co-host of AMC's "Sunday Morning Shootout," says Universal's task is to make people aware of the film without alienating them.

GUBER: They want to touch that nerve, but they don't want to make it so burnt and so raw that the audience pulls back. They want the audience to lean forward. They don't want the audience to be critical. They want them to be curious. ANDERSON: Universal did line up support for the film from all the families of Flight 93 victims, including Alice Hoagland, mother of passenger Mark Bingham.

ALICE HOAGLAND, MOTHER OF SEPTEMBER 11 VICTIM: Director Paul Greengrass did a remarkable good job of gaining the support and the enthusiasm of the Flight 93 families.

ANDERSON: But the families' backing doesn't guarantee audiences are ready to see 9/11-themed movies.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think it's too soon for that.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I definitely don't want to see it.

ANDERSON: "United 93" opens later this month. In August, Paramount releases another 9/11-related movie, Oliver Stone's "World Trade Center," starring Nicolas Cage. What may bode well for those films is the success of A&E's TV movie about "Flight 93." It drew almost six million viewers in January, a record for the network. But there's a difference between watching a movie at home vs. a crowded theater.

GUBER: The question will be, how will they do in that communal setting? I think very well. And I think part of the reason it will do well is because of you. The controversy in the media about this subject is just what this film needs. Without that noise, it wouldn't cut through the big white noise.

ANDERSON: "United 93," and "World Trade Center" after it, will test whether the public is ready to see the nation's worst tragedy dramatized on the big screen.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think it is going to upset a lot of people. But I think people need to see it.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP, "UNITED 93")

UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR: United 93, clear for takeoff.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: Brooke Anderson, CNN, Los Angeles.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KAGAN: Be sure to join PAULA ZAHN weeknights 8:00 p.m., 5:00 p.m. Pacific right here on CNN.

Some royal news, a royal gets his marching orders. It is pomp for the prince, Prince Harry; that would be Lieutenant Harry to you now. That story is just ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAGAN: The party prince? You can forget about that. Harry is now a straight arrow. The young royal graduated from an elite academy today. He becomes a commissioned officer in the British army. Harry Plans to train to become a troop commander. It's possible he could even serve in a war zone. Harry is a frequent favorite with the British tabloids and paparazzi. They have splashed his drinking and drug problems, and Nazi costume he wore to a party. They even tattled when Harry and his buddy celebrated graduation last week at a lap dance club.

I guess congratulations to him on graduating.

The queen was there, by the way.

I'm Daryn Kagan. International news sup next. Stay tuned for YOUR WORLD TODAY.

I'll be back in just a bit with the latest headlines from here in the U.S.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

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