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Early Start with John Berman and Zoraida Sambolin

150 Killed in French Alps Plane Crash; Not Thaw in U.S.-Israeli Relations; NFL Approves New Safety Measures. Aired 5-5:30a ET

Aired March 25, 2015 - 05:00   ET

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

[05:00:03] ALISON KOSIK, CNN MONEY CORRESPONDENT: Porat gives up the title on Wall Street, though. It's industry that we haven't yet seen its first female CEO. I do like her mantra. She hates that phrase work/live balance. She says she likes to find a satisfying mix between work and family.

CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN ANCHOR: Oh, yes, there's no such thing as work and life balance. It's never ever in balance. No one knows -- everyone knows it's never in balance.

All right. Thanks so much, Alison.

EARLY START continues right now.

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ROMANS: Happening now: an intense search to recover remains of those on board Germanwings Flight 9525 crashing into the French Alps, with 150 people on board. Investigators now examining the plane's cockpit voice recording to figure out what went so wrong. Live team coverage breaking down the search, the investigation and now mourning those killed.

Good morning. Welcome to EARLY START. I'm Christine Romans. It is Wednesday, March 25th. It is 5:00 a.m. in the East. John Berman is in Washington all week.

This morning, the cockpit voice recording black box has been recovered. And investigators are trying to figure out just what caused that crash of a Germanwings Airbus A320 in the French Alps, 150 people onboard. Every one on that flight from Barcelona, Spain, to Dusseldorf, Germany, presumed dead including two babies.

The cause of the crash a mystery this morning. Germanwings said the plane descended from its cruising altitude for eight minutes before radar was lost -- radar contact was lost and the plane slammed into the mountain. Now, crews are struggling to recover bodies and wreckage from the snow-covered, high mountain valley where this plane went down.

For the very latest, let's bring in CNN's Erin McLaughlin. She's in the recovery about six miles from the crash site.

And good morning, Erin.

You've seen rescue helicopters taking off, haven't you?

ERIN MCLAUGHLIN, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: We have, Christine. The recovery operation very much under way. The field that you see behind me, a hive of activity for the past few hours, helicopters landing and taking off again. Onboard those helicopters, police officials as well as inspectors and specialist mountaineers.

They're headed, of course, to the crash site which has been described as pretty grim. It's in a very remote location, accessible primarily by air. The terrain there described as difficult.

Local officials say that when the ill-fated plane crashed, it was pretty much obliterated, wreckage strewn over a wide area including human remains. Germany's foreign minister flew over the site yesterday. He said it was a photo of horror. And that is what these recovery officials are going to be working with later today. One of their top priorities, of course, is beginning to try to identify the 150 victims that were on board that plane as well as begin the repatriation process.

So far, no bodies have been recovered. They're also going to try to be answering all of the questions about how this could have happened. Earlier this morning, we heard from France's interior ministry. He said that yesterday, they had recovered the flight cockpit voice recorder. He said that it had been damaged, but they hope to have it fixed in the coming hours -- Christine.

ROMANS: All right. Erin McLaughlin, thank you for that. Again, damaged voice recorder, but they hope to have that fixed soon. Thank you.

Passengers aboard Germanwings Flight 9525, they came from all over, as well as a handful from South America, Asia, Australia. Nearly half of them, at least 67 were German. The German chancellor, Angela Merkel, she says the crash has plunged Germany, France and Spain into deep mourning.

Today, she will travel to the crash site. 16 students and 2 teachers on that flight were returning to the town of Haltern near Dusseldorf. They had been on a week-long foreign exchange program in Spain. And now, Haltern is in mourning.

CNN's Rosie Tomkins is near there in Dusseldorf. She has the very latest -- Rosie.

ROSIE TOMKINS, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Christine.

Yes, I'm at the airport in Dusseldorf where of course this flight was intended to, as its destination, before the terrible tragic crash occurred. This is where many of the families headed on Tuesday when they received the news of the crash in order to try and get some answers. And of course, they had their worst fears confirmed when they found that their loved ones had indeed been onboard. They set up a crisis center here at the airport for those family members in order to provide support where they could psychologists help them with the trauma of this loss.

The airline has also offered to fly family members to the region in the French Alps, should they want to get closer to the site just to be nearer to the location of the crash where their lost loved ones are.

And meanwhile, it's a nation in mourning. As you mentioned, 16 students from the school, in the town of Haltern, just 80 kilometers north of here, and that town feeling the tremendous impact of that loss. Two teachers were also on board the flight.

[05:05:06] The mayor of the town appeared in public yesterday, visibly shaken and emotional, talking about how shock was felt throughout the town, that you could feel it everywhere.

Also, these two opera singers that we now know were on board, they were also from the Dusseldorf region, returning home from a series of performances in Barcelona. One of them, Maria Radner, was on board with her husband and her baby. One of those two babies you mentioned that were on board.

So, as these details emerge, names and faces which are bringing personal focus to the tragedies with the wide numbers that we're hearing and really bringing that focus sharper.

But as you said, 67 German nationals, that's the number at the moment. And Germanwings saying that number could change as more details emerge -- Christine.

ROMANS: OK. Rosie Tomkins in Dusseldorf, thank you, Rosie.

The king of Spain canceling his state visit to France to return home this morning. The Germanwings flight originated in Barcelona, and a count of Spanish surnames suggests about 45 of the passengers may have been Spanish nationals. Still no official count, though, from officials in Spain.

Mourning along with those families in Haltern, Germany, are the residents of this small Spanish town where the German students attended that exchange program. Hundreds gathering at a mass to remember their new friends.

CNN's Karl Penhaul is there with the very latest. Good morning, Karl.

KARL PENHAUL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Christine.

This is the Spanish school, we're outside it now, where those 16 German students spent the last week studying. Now, while they were studying, they were also being hosted by Spanish families. They were forging friendships here. They were learning the language. They were continuing friendships as well because only three weeks ago, a group of Spanish students had traveled to Germany to study there and stay with German families.

So, today, those friendships now come to an end with this accident. And on hand, members of the Red Cross, they're giving some kind of support to some of the students, some of the teachers, some of the parents that are inside the school right now. And they will commemorate their lost friends in about half an hour from now in some kind of short remembrance service.

But as well, while this is going on here, of course, Lufthansa continuing to sift through the passenger lists to figure out the exact nationalities of who was on board and to give us a better breakdown. Again, back in the Barcelona airport, a crisis center has been set up. And there psychologists also on hand to help a group of about 150 friends and relatives who showed up there yesterday, work through this trauma, give them the support they require.

And as we already know, a very varied group of people on board that flight. As far as the Spaniards who lost their lives, many of them seem to have been business executives who were heading to Germany for some kind of trade fair. And, of course, remember Barcelona, a very cosmopolitan city.

It's a big draw for tourists on longer vacations and also on short weekend stays. It's also a favored destination for northern Europeans who come to this area of Spain looking for a little bit of winter sun. So, certainly, a tragedy that has affected many nations and many generations as well, Christine.

ROMANS: Oh, yes, Karl, it's a snapshot into how modern air travel has been able to unite so many different people. And you look at the budget airline boom over the last decade or two, and Europe in particular, on this particular airline, you know, the fee structures anywhere from 33 euros to 149 euros.

So, really, Karl, you could have people from all walks of life on that plane.

PENHAUL: Yes, absolutely. I mean, here in Europe, we think nothing of showing up at the airport, buying these budget tickets. It's the cheapest way to get around. Often, it's even cheaper than taking the train, certainly cheaper than paying to put the gas in your car. So, really, nothing untoward.

Yesterday afternoon, in fact, I was talking to some more passengers boarding one of the later Germanwings flights and said to them, you know, have you got any fears about getting on this flight now? It's a budget flight. We know there's been an accident this morning. They say, look, you know, it is the way we get around Europe now. It just seems so normal to us.

And, you know, it's something we have to deal with. But I don't think people are necessarily concerned about the safety record of low-cost flights, Christine.

ROMANS: Yes, I think you're right. Karl Penhaul, thank you for that this morning from Spain.

Nine minutes past the hour.

A Lufthansa spokesperson says the airline will no longer use Flight 9525. Lufthansa is the parent company of Germanwings. And that's the number of the Germanwings flight that crashed yesterday, killing all 150 on board.

So, does low cost mean low safety?

Let's talk about it a little more with CNN money correspondent Alison Kosik.

Alison, you heard what Karl was saying. People are still getting on flights right after this one. Does low cost mean less safe?

ALISON KOSIK, CNN MONEY CORRESPONDENT: The experts that we spoke with at CNN money say they are not less safe. They are safe.

[05:10:01] Budget airlines, yes, they cut corners on things like convenience, like your legroom, like getting your drinks, charging you for your bag. But experts say they do not cut costs on safety.

Now, one thing they do do, though, is pay their crews less than other airlines. That includes pilots. But that doesn't mean the pilot is not safe or it can't fly the plane. It just means that the pilot is simply less experienced.

And the planes themselves are well maintained. You know, one expert put it this way, saying that safety is really the biggest advertisement for an air carrier.

ROMANS: Yes, in this particular case, this pilot was very experienced. He had ten years' experience. So at least initially, investigators aren't concerned about the experience factor in the cockpit.

What about the safety records, then, of the low-cost carriers?

KOSIK: You know, industry-wide, it's really a good track record. You look at European discount carriers. They've actually got strong safety records on par with the industry as a whole.

Germanwings specifically has a very good reputation. It was launched by Lufthansa in 2002 to compete with Ryanair and easyJet. And Lufthansa has one of the best safety records in the world. Now, the plane that crashed yesterday, the Airbus A320, is also one of the safest and most used in the world.

ROMANS: It's so interesting, too, the decline in oil prices means so many of these airlines have more money to invest in newer planes and to give their employees raises. So they have been seeing an economic boom of late. But clearly, the safety issue -- a lot of people talking about these flights that have gone down over the past year.

Thank you so much, Alison. Nice to see you.

Happening now: the rift widening between the U.S. and Israel. President Obama with new criticism this morning of Prime Minister Netanyahu.

Plus, a new plan for U.S. troops to remain in Afghanistan, next.

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ROMANS: President Obama giving up all hope for a peace agreement between the Israelis and Palestinians while he's in office, the president says because of conflicting comments from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, it is no longer realistic to expect a two-state solution in the next several years.

[05:15:02] And he had plenty to say about the eroding relationship between Israel and the United States.

Here's CNN White House senior correspondent Jim Acosta.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JIM ACOSTA, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Christine, no thaw in that chill in U.S.-Israeli relations just yet. President Obama is still refusing to accept Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's explanations about his stance on Palestinian statehood, describing their relationship as businesslike. The president said there's nothing personal on their disagreement on two key issues: the Iran nuclear talks and prospects for a Palestinian state.

At a news conference with the new president of Afghanistan, Mr. President dismissed Netanyahu's latest position in favor of a two- state solution with the Palestinians, something the prime minister rejected just before his re-election.

Here's what the president had to say:

BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: He's pointed out that he didn't say never, but that there would be a series of conditions in which a Palestinian state could potentially be created. But of course, the conditions were such that they would be impossible to meet any time soon.

ACOSTA: Making matters worse is that "Wall Street Journal" report quoting U.S. officials that they're spying on the Iranian nuclear talks and leaking details to Congress. When asked about that, the president tried to laugh it off saying he doesn't talk about intelligence matters with reporters, but lawmakers on Capitol Hill are throwing water on these allegations. And the Israelis, they're not amused, issuing a statement saying these allegations are utterly false. The state of Israel does not conduct espionage against the United States or Israel's other allies -- Christine.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ROMANS: All right. Jim Acosta at the White House this morning -- thanks, Jim.

A slowdown in the drawdown of U.S. troops in Afghanistan. That means more soldiers will be staying in Afghanistan longer. President Obama announcing the current level of 9,800 troops will remain in Afghanistan through the end of the year instead of the reduction that number down to 5,500 as planned. Afghanistan's president, Ashraf Ghani, he had requested an adjustment of American troop withdrawal timeline. President Ghani wrapping up his first official to the U.S. He'll address a joint meeting of Congress today.

All right. NFL owners approving several rule changes to address player safety including a new medical time-out. "The Bleacher Report", next.

Think a dream retirement means golfing every day? Well, some people are getting much more creative. Check out one woman's story, retiring to her own winery.

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IRIS RIDEAU, OWNS A WINERY: I never imagined owning a winery. There are two different types of businesses here in the valley. It's either you're raising horses or you're growing grapes. And I don't ride horses. And I drink a lot of wine.

My name is Iris Rideau. I was born and raised in New Orleans. I spent my adult years in California, and I moved here to this beautiful valley of Santa Inez, and now I enjoy fine wines and wonderful Creole food.

Oh, there was always hustle and bustle. Yes.

My years in New Orleans, that Sunday dinner was always about being in the kitchen with my grandmother, helping her to get the food to the table. There was always this wonderful, beautiful antique vase of red wines that her father made. And the kids all got a little small glass of wine. They probably put water in it at the time. But I've been drinking wine since I was 5 years old.

In 1980, I became California's state director for a national pension planning company. So that's really what launched my career and how I made my money. And I did that for another 20 years. And it was at that point I decided it was time for me to start looking to retire.

So I got in my car by myself, left Los Angeles, and drove up north. And when I got to the valley, I said, this is it. This is where I want to live.

This winery property came on the market just at the time when I was getting ready to retire. And I thought, why not? I was 59 at the time. I just had so much more life in me.

Everybody makes wine in the valley. You have to have something different. And you have to give people an experience. And so, I started cooking in the kitchen, making my gumbo, and jambalaya, like my grandmother used to do. So when you walk in this house, you feel like you're at grandma's house.

I'm on the floor. With my staff, pouring wines. I just enjoy people.

[05:20:02] They call me the rock star. At my age, I'm a rock star.

You never know about life, you know?

(END VIDEOTAPE) (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ROMANS: With less than a month to go in the NBA regular season, the playoff chase is heating up. And we saw one exciting buzzer beater by the Bucks last night.

Andy Scholes has more in this morning's "Bleacher Report."

Hey, Andy.

ANDY SCHOLES, CNN SPORTS CORRESPONDENT: Hey, good morning, Christine.

Yes, it's getting to the point in the season where all these games really important for playoff positioning. The Bucks and Heat, two teams trying to hang on to playoff spots in the east. Their game in Milwaukee down to the wire, down to in closing seconds, Bucks misses a layup. There's a scramble for the loose ball. He saves it to Khris Middleton and he buries the three at the buzzer.

Bucks win a thriller, 89-88. Great birthday present for their coach, Jason Kidd.

All right. Elsewhere in the NBA last night, Steph Curry treating fans to another dazzling performance. He poured in 33 points as the Warriors easily beat the Blazers 122-108. With the win, Golden State clinches the Pacific division, first time they've done that since 1976.

[05:25:03] All right. The NFL is making more changes in an effort to increase player safety on the field. The league announced the owners voted to allow a certified athletic trainer at each stadium to call a medical time-out if a player appears to be disoriented. Now, this trainer will act as an injury spotter from a booth and will communicate with the officials on the field. The medical time-out will not count against either team.

An entire Swedish soccer team is lucky to be alive this morning. Dalkurd FF was scheduled to be on the Germanwings flight that crashed in the alps yesterday, but a late change of planes ended up saving their lives. The entire team was booked on the Germanwings flight, but due to a long layover in Dusseldorf, the team, at the last second, they split up, putting the players on three different planes.

Goalkeeper frank Petersen, he used Twitter to tell the world he and his teammates were alive and well, saying, "To all those who have tried to contact us in the past few hours, we are home, and we are fine. It was another plane. May they rest in peace."

Now, the team's manager, Christine, said we were supposed to be on that plane. We are definitely, definitely lucky this morning to be alive.

ROMANS: Definitely lucky and a reminder just how sad that story is. Thanks so much for that, Andy Scholes, this morning.

Happening now, an intense search to recover the victims of that plane, the Germanwings 9525. Investigators examining one of the plane's black boxes. We're going to bring you live team coverage next.

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ROMANS: An intense search to find the remains of those on board Germanwings 9525. The Airbus crashing into the French Alps. Investigators examining the plane's cockpit voice recording to figure out what went so wrong. Live team coverage bringing you every angle of that story begins now.