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Early Start with John Berman and Zoraida Sambolin

Reports: Germanwings Pilot Locked Out of Cockpit; Saudi Arabia Launches Airstrikes in Yemen; Bowe Bergdahl Charged with Desertion; Down to the Sweet 16. Aired 5-5:30a ET

Aired March 26, 2015 - 05:00   ET

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


[05:00:00] CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN ANCHOR: Bad investment.

All right. Thank you so much, Alison Kosik. Nice to see you.

EARLY START continues right now.

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ROMANS: Locked out of the cockpit. Reports claiming one of the pilots of Germanwings 9525 could be heard desperately trying to get back in the cockpit before the plane crashed into the Alps. He was locked out.

This morning, the mystery deepens. What was the other pilot doing inside the cockpit? This as we learn new information about those on board.

We are covering all angles of our big story this morning.

Good morning. Welcome to EARLY START. I'm Christine Romans. It is Thursday, March 26th. It is 5:00 a.m. in the East.

Breaking overnight: a blockbuster revelation that puts investigators one step closer to figuring out just what caused that plane to crash. Media reports say one of the pilots onboard Flight 9525 was locked out of the cockpit as the plane descended and then flew straight into the mountain. And this chilling disclosure: a senior military official telling "The New York Times" the pilot can be heard on the cockpit voice recorder, first, tapping and then knocking, and then trying to smash down the door. That plane crashed with him still trying to get into the cockpit.

Turning now to CNN's Erin McLaughlin live at the staging area for recovery efforts in the French Alps. There is a lot of information that still needs to be put together, a lot of pieces of the puzzle. But this information, first reported by "The New York Times", Since reported by the French media, really, really is shocking.

ERIN MCLAUGHLIN, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Shocking and it really does serve to deepen this mystery, Christine.

What we don't know is we don't know why the pilot got up and left the cockpit. We, of course, also don't know why the other pilot did not let him back inside.

Now, so far, authorities here are not commenting on the very chilling reports. The most they said about the contents of the cockpit flight recorder publicly is that they were analyzing voices and sounds on the file. Meanwhile, the search continues for another key piece of evidence that could offer vital clues as to how that plane was flying, how it was performing moments before it crashed. That is the flight recorder.

Now, we know they have managed to recover the casings for that recorder. But the recorder itself is still missing. A Lufthansa CEO says it is probable they will eventually find it, the question, of course, becomes what condition will that recorder be in when, in fact, they do?

Meanwhile, I don't know if you heard the choppers. A helicopter just flew over my head here. The recovery effort, as you can see, still continuing. The choppers are leaving all day from the staging area just behind me.

We are also expecting the arrival of some 400 friends and families of the victims who perished on that flight. They are being brought here to be as close to their loved ones as possible -- Christine.

ROMANS: All right. Thanks very much. We see a very busy staging area behind her. Erin McLaughlin for this morning, about six miles from the crash site.

Joining us now to shed some light on just what may have been happening in the cockpit, rather, CNN aviation analyst Les Abend, who is also a 777 captain.

Good morning, Les.

LES ABEND, CNN AVIATION ANALYST (via telephone): Good morning, Christine.

ROMANS: So, this overnight, I mean, frankly, bombshell overnight on the cockpit voice recorder, you can hear one of the pilots outside the cockpit, knock -- first, tapping and then knocking and then desperately trying to get back into the cockpit. Tell me from the point of view of a pilot, what are the possible scenarios why he left and why he could not get back in?

ABEND: Well, first of all, Christine, this is breaking news for me. I just arrived here in London. So, I'm just getting this information now. So, I would caution everybody with reference to where these transcripts came from or where this recording came from, you know, when I left today or yesterday, it was an indication that from the BEA folks, which is e equivalent to the NTSB here in the United States, that they were not releasing transcripts until they had verify all the data and so on. So, it's very questionable with me.

But to your question, the only reason the pilot would have to get out of the cockpit would be to relieve himself or grab a cup of coffee. This was immediately after, it seemed after cruise altitude. Most pilots won't leave the cockpit until the airplane is established the cruise altitude, and auto pilot is on and the airplane is set up and the other pilot is ready to assume duties by himself.

[05:05:03] ROMANS: Can you tell me--

So, how he got locked out, I mean, there are various -- if there was a mechanical failure of the latch. You know, this is hard to say. You know, if we deem all this true, it sounds like he was deliberately locked out. This is frightening.

ROMANS: And that's what they are trying to investigate here.

Give me a sense of what kind of chitchat there would be in the typical cockpit of an airplane. Maybe the pilots don't know each other. We don't know yet.

The military official telling "The New York Times", a cool and smooth conversation between the two before one pilot left and could not get back in.

What kind of chitchat is usually happening?

ABEND: Well, I mean, before a pilot leaves the cockpit, the first thing he says is, hey, do you have the airplane? Are you set? You are ready to go? We have to put on oxygen masks above a certain altitude. You know, and then, we leave the cockpit to do whatever it is that we do. Get a cup of coffee, go to the bathroom or lavatory.

And then we're ready to come back, we get on the interphone and we say, you know, we identify ourselves. The individual, who opens the cockpit door, looks through the viewing port to verify the crew member and open the door for that crew member. There are other security procedures I cannot get into.

ROMANS: Sure.

ABEND: That's what we would be doing. It would be a typical situation that we would participate in. It is a basic non-event. This is something that happens every day on flights hundreds of thousands of flights across the world.

ROMANS: Just routine to leave the cockpit and come back.

Let me ask you this, could you have pressurization in the cockpit but not the rest of the aircraft, not the rest of plane?

ABEND: No.

ROMANS: No?

ABEND: No, no, no. I mean, what could occur is the pressure system could go into a manual system, but only disable within the cockpit. Once that happens, the entire airplane is depressurized and the crew -- the cockpit crew does have their own oxygen system that they breathe off through bottles. So, you know, that's certainly available and then, of course,

passengers had the drop-down masks and walk-around model is available. No, it's not --

ROMANS: What about the auto pilot in this case? Would they have been using auto pilot? Is auto pilot on?

I mean, you are a pilot. I mean, you are an expert in all things aviation. Wouldn't the plane have not allowed -- the computer not allowed the plane to fly into the mountains?

ABEND: It's a great question.

Not necessarily. It would have been a system called a ground proximity warning system, the GPWS. That system would have been screaming. It would have been saying pull up, pull up. It gives the warning based on the closure rate and how close you are to the terrain.

The airplane itself? No, it would not. This is not a military situation where you do low level type runs. This airplane would not, as a result of terrain, pull itself up.

ROMANS: So many pieces of the puzzle to put back together. What I think is interesting, it comes down to two simple kind of possibilities. It's a technical problem. It's a human problem.

But there are so many variations and so many pieces of material to put together, so many pieces of evidence. This is just one of them. But, obviously, it is a very big development, isn't it, Les?

ABEND: It really is, and it's very perplexing to me.

And, once again, you know, all sorts of factors go into an accident and we may just be at the tip of the iceberg. Once again, I caution everybody to jump to conclusions before we have all of the facts in. Very perplexing.

ROMANS: It is.

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ROMANS: That "New York Times" reporting that one of them, one of the pilots locked out of the cockpit. Would a pilot be able to break down that door? They are made post-9/11 to withstand someone being able to get into the cockpit.

ABEND: They are. They are pretty testament to our technology. Kevlar doors, the latches are strong. It requires a code to get in or have somebody open it from the cockpit side of the door to get in.

So, it can be -- entry can be denied or it can be manually locked from inside the cockpit which is something that makes it more perplexing. If you could not get in, that cockpit side of the door to get in. It can be -- entry can be denied or it can be manually locked from inside the cockpit, which is something that makes it even more perplexing. [05:10:07] In other words, if you could not get in, that means

something was going on, perhaps the other pilot in there was disabled in some way, or couldn't get to the door or deliberately doing it.

ROMANS: We just don't know.

ABEND: Or deliberately latched the door manually, I don't -- it's hard to say.

ROMANS: We just know. Les Abend, 777 captain, aviation contributor to CNN, so nice to have your perspective this morning on these breaking developments about that flight. Again, a lot more information -- a lot more information to gather. Thanks, Les.

New details emerging this morning about the victims in the Germanwings crash. Passengers from all over the world, including, we've learned, three Americans. Two were a mother and daughter, Yvonne and Emily Selke, of Nokesville, Virginia, near Washington. Emily was a recent graduate of Drexel University. Her mother Yvonne, a long time employee of the consulting firm Booz Allen Hamilton. Officials have not identified the third American on that flight.

We're learning more this morning about other passengers presumed dead in the crash. The number is still in flux as Germanwings and officials in least 18 countries keep updating them. But we know they came from the Middle East, Asia, North and South America and all across Europe. We've just seen the photos of two German opera singers. By far, the largest numbers come from Spain, the origin of Flight 9525, and Germany, its destination.

Joining us from Germany this morning, from the town of Haltern, home of 16 students and two teachers on the flight, CNN's Diana Magnay -- Diana.

DIANA MAGNAY, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Christine.

Well, there were 72 German lives we believe lost in the Flight 9525. And as you say, 18 of those from the town of Haltern am See. The Joseph-Koenig gymnasium behind me is where 16 exchange students had set off from a little over a week ago to Spain where they had a language exchange program with Spanish students who've been here in this town in December.

And as you can see behind me, their classmates and friends have for the last few days been laying flowers and memorials tributes to the friends that they've lost. There are signs here saying (INAUDIBLE).

The students are being cared for by grief counselors, trauma counselors, psychologist, to try and help them through this process, as relatives of the deceased are being flown to Marseilles by Lufthansa, a special flight from Dusseldorf and also from Barcelona right now. We believe they are in the air at this moment and they will then be brought to the crash site.

And in just a few minutes, at 45 minutes, at 10:53 a.m. local time, which was the time the Germanwings flight went down, there will be a moment of silence in the town of Haltern and the schools around the region to remember those who died -- Christine.

ROMANS: Diana Magnay, thank so much for that, in Haltern, Germany.

To Yemen now -- overnight, breaking overnight, Yemen erupting and Saudi Arabia backed by a 10-nation coalition, launching air strikes against Iranian-backed Houthi rebels. The U.S. on the sidelines is providing logistical and intelligence support. The fight to stabilize Yemen, a key U.S. ally, threatening to escalate into all-out war.

CNN's Becky Anderson, monitoring the offensive, live from Abu Dhabi this morning.

And, Becky, we were just talking to Nick Paton Walsh who said, you know, this is a conflict in an important country that threatens to become a regional instability issue. That is a real problem.

BECKY ANDERSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes, the consequences of this fight are remarkable.

This is what we know at this point: Saudi Arabia warplanes overnight targeting airports runways in two air bases, as well as weapon storage sites and Houthi militia strongholds. And that includes the capital city of Sana'a, where residents we've spoken to overnight have reported heavy shelling. We are seeing the aftermath of the video coming in to CNN now.

This is being plugged Operation Decisive Storm by the Saudis. If reports are to be believed, they built a coalition with teeth, alongside as many as 100 Saudi planes, statement of support from GCC allies, the UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Qatar, as well as offers of military support from Egypt and from Jordan. Now, it is unclear the extent to which these regional Sunni Arab allies will be involved.

But what is clear, Christine, is that the Saudis are coming good in what is a very well-plugged promise, to, as they say restore stability in the country racked by instability, following that coup orchestrated by the -- against the Saudi and U.S. backed ally President Hadi, orchestrated by Houthi militia.

And for context, Houthi militia are a Iran-backed Shia minority who emanate from the north of the country who in recent days have taken the capital of Sana'a and for press out towards the port city of Aden, where the president had been holed up.

[05:15:03] He is now, we believe, on his way possibly to Saudi or Oman, out of the country. Now, why is this happening? Well, Yemen is Saudi's neighbor to the south and Riyadh deeply concerned about what they see as an Iranian stronghold developing in a failed state across its -- along its porous border, 2,000 kilometers. They say the risk of turmoil spilling into its eastern province where the kingdom's richest oil deposit supply is crucial.

Iran decrying this, this morning, very briefly, Christine. They say this would allow for more extremism and terrorism in the region. So, watch this space.

ROMANS: Watch this space.

All right. Becky Anderson, thank you so much for that.

About 16 minutes past the hour.

The U.S. soldier rescued from the Taliban five years in captivity, he is now charged with desertion. The punishment Bowe Bergdahl could face.

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ROMANS: After investigating the circumstances surrounding his captivity at the hands of the Taliban, the Army has charged Sergeant Bowe Bergdahl with desertion. If convicted, if he could face life in prison.

CNN's Martin Savidge is in San Antonio, Texas, following developments for us this morning.

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MARTIN SAVIDGE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Christine.

Despite the charges against him, it is expected, at least according to the U.S. military, that this is another typical day for Sergeant Bowe Bergdahl. In other words, he's not been taken into custody. He is not being held.

[05:50:01] You will remember that he came to San Antonio last May, shortly after he was released from captivity for two purposes. One to get him medically fit again. And then the other one was to put him through what's called a reintegration program. It's a program that they specialized on down here, and it helps POWs, former POWs, sort of come back to normal life.

Once he completed that program, then he was given a desk job at Fort Sam Houston, in fact, working in the building directly behind us here. And that's pretty much been his life. The U.S. military will say that he is treated no differently than any other soldier. He has the same freedoms, the same privileges with maybe one exception, and that they say is whenever he leaves post, he is escorted by two soldiers, the military maintains that that is for his own protection.

As to what's come next, that will be the Article 32 hearing that will also take place here in San Antonio. And it will be then that it's determined whether or not the evidence is sufficient enough to move forward with an actual court martial. No date has yet been announced for that -- Christine.

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ROMANS: All right. Martin Savidge for us in San Antonio, thanks for that, Martin.

All right. Break out those brackets. We are down to the Sweet 16. Kentucky back on the floor tonight in search of a perfect season. Andy Scholes, with a broken bracket, breaking it down in the bleacher report, next.

A taxi industry group is proposing a cap on a number of Uber cars in New York City. The committee for taxi safety says Uber cars are now outnumbering yellow caps in NYC. That's why they have proposed a cap on for-hire vehicles. They want the city to study the impact Uber has on traffic, parking and pollution.

But an Uber spokesman tells CNN, quote, "The facts clearly show that Uber is changing New York City's transportation ecosystem for the better." The New York Taxi and Limousine Commission says it has not received a proposal from the taxi group.

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[05:55:29] ROMANS: The NCAA tournament ramps back up tonight with the Sweet 16. All eyes will be on Kentucky and its pursuit of perfection.

Andy Scholes has more on this morning's bleacher report.

Hey, Andy.

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

Yes, we heard about it all year. Will Kentucky be the first team since Bobby Knight's 1976 Indiana Hoosiers to run the table and go undefeated? Well, they can move one step closer tonight as they face- off against West Virginia in the Sweet 16.

Interesting stat: Mountaineers coach Bob Huggins, he is 8-2 all time against Wildcats coach John Calipari. You know he'll have his team ready to play tonight.

And one of West Virginia's players, they're guaranteeing victory. Mountaineers freshman guard Daxter Miles Jr. told reporters yesterday, I give them their props, salute them to getting to 36-0. But tomorrow, they're going to be 36-1.

Now, you can watch Kentucky and West Virginia. They get going tonight at 9:45 Eastern. The action gets started at 7:15 Eastern with Notre Dame and Wichita State. The games can be seen tonight on CBS and TBS.

All right. The world champion San Antonio Spurs are starting to round into form. They put on an absolute show last night against the Thunder, nearly beating them by 40. The final score was 130-91.

In the third quarter, here's something you rarely see, Tim Duncan knocking down a three-pointer. Well, it turns old TD bet a friend 100 buck he'd make a three in the game. Check this out, here is his friend in the stands ready to pay up. You got to think the odds are in their favor. Duncan had only made one three all season. But hey, he rose to the occasion winning that bet.

All right. If you head to bleacherreport.com this morning, you can check out some really cool pieces of art. Bleacher report has partnered with the Creative Action Network with the community of artists and designers around the world, to create a digital art experience called Transcend. Moments in sports that changed the game.

Now, if you like anything you see on the screen right here, you can head to bleacherreport.com, and you can actually buy a print with all of the proceeds going to the Boys and Girls Club of America.

Christine, I've got to say, I clicked on this whole experience right there, some really cool pieces of art that I would definitely want to own. It would be really cool to have them in my living room. It definitely gives you memories of seeing that moment in sports actually happened.

ROMANS: Oh, yes, that's so interesting. All right. Thanks. That was really cool. And really good cause.

Thanks so much, Andy Scholes.

Twenty-seven minutes past the hour.

We are tracking these new clues this morning into what caused Germanwings Flight 9525 to crash. A pilot locked out of the cockpit desperate to get in. What was his co-pilot inside doing? Live team coverage, next.

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