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Early Start with John Berman and Zoraida Sambolin

Deliberate Crash in the Alps: Motive for Murder; Yemen in Chaos; U.S. Airstrikes Pound ISIS Targets in Tikrit; Undefeated Kentucky Rolls On, Moves to 37-0. Aired 5-5:30a ET

Aired March 27, 2015 - 05:00   ET

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

CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN ANCHOR: Motive for murder. Investigators trying to figure out why the co- pilot of Germanwings 9525 deliberately crashed the plane killing himself and everyone else onboard. The disturbing reality deepening the mystery and the grief this morning.

[05:00:01] Live team coverage starts now.

Good morning and welcome to EARLY START. I'm Christine Romans. It is Friday, March 27th. It is 5:00 a.m. in the East.

We have some new answers this morning in that crash of Germanwings Flight 9525, but still, more questions as well. First, a French prosecutor says the co-pilot locked the pilot out of the cockpit and flew the plane deliberately into the mountain side, killing himself and 149 others. That co-pilot has now been identified as 27-year-old German national Andreas Lubitz.

But the central mystery remains, why? German police searching Lubitz's two homes, the family home and his current residence for clues. The FBI announcing it will help the French authorities in their investigation.

For the latest on all of this, I want to bring in CNN's Rosie Tomkins. She is live at the Lubitz family home in Montabaur, Germany.

Good morning, Rosie.

ROSIE TOMKINS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Christine. Yes, here I am in Montabaur, the day after the police arrived when Lubitz's identity was brought out. Lubitz, Andreas Lubitz, 27-year-old co-pilot now stands accused of deliberately crashing the plane and everybody desperate searching for clues, to answer questions as to why.

You can see behind me, a lot of media here, from around the world, as the focus really has shifted on to this man, in an effort to find anything about him. This is the home where he grew up with his family. They are said to be a good family, engaged in the community, neighbors here are shocked to hear the news, of course, this family could have been involved.

Today, the town feels deserted. There's no signs of life. The police are still here maintaining a presence, we believe, maintaining security and guarding the home.

But the checks they carried took place yesterday, and police were seen leaving the family residence and his apartment in Dusseldorf with boxes and bags, in which, of course, they are hoping they can find clues as to why this young man would do this, anything indicating a motive, anything indicating he might have been unhappy, and mentally unstable, anything they would have to go on to answer the questions that everybody is desperate to answer, Christine.

ROMANS: Tell us a little more about him, how long he was working for the airlines and the like. Clearly, they will be looking at every moment of his adult life to see if there were any psychiatric treatment, psychiatric efforts, if there any kind of breaks in his -- in his -- in his mental state.

TOMKINS: Yes, exactly, looking for clues. Absolutely everywhere, the investigators and the airline. The airline has confirmed, and you may have seen these reports that Lubitz did take a break in his training about six years ago when he was training to be a pilot in the states. But they have given us no further details. They say any other medical records would be deemed confidential or handed over now to authorities and the investigation.

But he did take this break and he returned to complete his training afterwards. And he completed it successfully and deemed 100 percent physically fit and capable of flying at the time of this flight. So, the airlines themselves are saying, absolutely no indications there was any cause of concerns. The CEO Carsten Spohr of Lufthansa, he told us they actually have an internal system, which is interesting, because had any crew members, any other pilots felt there was any reason to report on Lubitz's state that they thought was concerning, they could have done so confidentially. It seems nobody did. There was nothing official internally to indicate there was a problem.

Carsten Spohr, himself, the CEO, maintains the airline had no way of knowing to be concerned about. And, of course, those audio recordings amazingly recovered from the cockpit just giving us the sound of Lubitz breathing until the point of impact, that eerie silence. Not responding to the banging on the door desperately trying to get back into the cockpit.

So, they are piecing together the bits and trying to find answers, and the police likewise carrying out the searches, trying to find clues, Christine.

ROMANS: Yes, steady, even breathing could be heard from the microphone right up until the moment of impact. Just chilling to think what was going through his mind. That break in his training in the United States that happened before working for Lufthansa, that will be an important point of scrutiny.

Rosie Tomkins, thank you so much.

Crews in the French Alps facing a grim task this morning recovering scattered remains under daunting conditions. The crash scene is five acres across. It is accessible only by helicopter. You can see the pitch of the slope there. The recovery workers must be lowered on cables, because there's simply no place for their choppers to land.

Victims' family members, more than 250 of them, arriving in buses at the nearby village of Le Vernet, very private memorial service.

International correspondent Erin McLaughlin is at the recovery base camp for -- she's looking at all of these details for us this morning with the latest -- Erin.

ERIN MCLAUGHLIN, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Christine.

Well, the recovery operation continues in the French Alps this morning. The first choppers flying out from the staging area. You see behind me, for the crash site, much more work needs to be done.

[05:05:02] After all, the plane was absolutely obliterated when it crashed into the mountain side. Wreckage strewn over a wide area. The terrain there very steep, very cold and icy conditions for the workers.

And their priorities are really at this point twofold. They are still looking for the flight data recorder to give them more information as to how the plane was being flown into the moments before the crash. They are also looking to recover human remains. Those remains being airlifted out of the crash site. Investigators say that it will take weeks for DNA analysis to be complete and only then will they be returned, the bodies be returned to the victims' families.

So, a long and agonizing wait for them. They were in the area here yesterday, taking part in the memorial service being held at a village not far from the crash site. There was another prayer service in the evening as well. We understand that most of the families have returned to their homes. But today, all waking up with the grim realization that investigators think someone deliberately, the co- pilot deliberately crashed that plane and that their loved ones have yet to be identified -- Christine.

ROMANS: All right. Erin, thank you so much, Erin, at the staging area for recovery in the French Alps. The ability of the co-pilot Andreas Lubitz to lock the pilot out of the cockpit, raising questions this morning about the in-flight policies of Lufthansa, which owns Germanwings.

CNN senior international correspondent Frederik Pleitgen, he spoke explosively with the Lufthansa CEO Carsten Spohr. He asked him about the airlines policy allowing a pilot to be alone in a cockpit.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

FREDERIK PLEITGEN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: In the United States, for instance, if one of the crew members leaves the cockpit, there always has to be someone who goes in, a flight attendant or something. Why was the co-pilot allowed to be in the cockpit alone?

CARSTEIN SPOHR, CEO, LUFTHANSA AIRLINES: Also in the United States, to my knowledge, that's only true for very few airlines. Most airlines around the world follow the same procedures as Lufthansa that in flight phases with low workload, the pilot can leave the cockpit, especially for physical need, and then he returns to the cockpit as fast as he can. That's a global thing, most accepted procedure, which we have used at Lufthansa for many, many years.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROMANS: Regulators and airlines are reviewing their cockpit rules now. The U.K. Civil Aviation Authority is urging airlines to require two people be present at all time. That is already required in the United States. But Air Berlin, easyJet, and Norwegian Air Shuttle decided to change their policies. Emirates Airlines is also changing its rules. And Canadian regulators are implementing that change country-wide.

So, what do these new rules now mean? If a pilot or co-pilot has to step out, another crew member will take their place on the flight deck.

The conflict in Yemen threatening to erupt into a full-scale civil war. Saudi Arabia leading another round of airstrikes on Iranian- backed Houthi rebels overnight. The U.S. not participating in the attacks, but the Pentagon did provide the intelligence needed to launch them. And now, the Saudis, along with the Egyptians, are threatening to send ground troop forces, ground forces, into Yemen if necessary.

CNN's Ian Lee monitoring developments live in Cairo -- Ian.

IAN LEE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Christine, last night, airstrikes once again rocked Yemen last night. There were 15 strikes in total by Arab coalition. Warplanes hitting weapons depots. Also hearing reports that targets near the presidential palace were also hit.

And if you go to the south of the country, to the port city of Aden, Houthi rebels, Iranian-backed Houthi rebels advancing on that city being held off by militias loyal to the Yemeni president. All the meanwhile, foreign ministers from various Arab countries, the Arab League, meeting in the Egyptian city of Sharm-el-Shaikh to discuss the current situation. In Yemen, the Yemeni president will attend the meeting to solidify this Arab-led coalition against these Houthi rebels.

Now, Egypt has pledged their navy. They pledged their air force. And also, if necessary, their ground troops as well.

Saudi ambassador talked to Wolf Blitzer about what their objective is. Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

AMBASSADOR ADEL AL-JUBEIR, THE SAUDI AMBASSADOR TO THE UNITED STATES: We are preparing for all eventualities inside the kingdom, as well as outside the kingdom. We are determined to defend Yemen, defend the legitimate government of Yemen, degrade and destroy the capabilities of the Houthis. (END VIDEO CLIP)

LEE: I can say that Arab generals hope that a ground invasion, it doesn't come to that. Egypt has fought one in the 1960s. It has been called Egypt's Vietnam. They had 40,000 troops there and they lost between 5,000 to 10,000. They don't want to repeat going into Yemen. It would be very dangerous. And so, they're hoping that for now, airstrikes can achieve their objectives.

[05:10:00] ROMANS: All right. Ian Lee for us in Cairo, thank you so much for that, Ian.

So, while the U.S. is supporting Saudis in Yemen, it is also trying to secure nuclear deal with Iran at the same time. The Secretary of State John Kerry heading up the talks in Switzerland insisting it will not affect the negotiations. The deadline to get a framework of this deal done, a nuclear deal, is four days away. The Iran's president is now intervening, sending a letter to President Obama and the leaders of the other five powers involved in the nuclear negotiations. Not clear yet exactly what those letters say.

Turning to Iraq, where U.S. led coalition staged 17 airstrikes against ISIS targets in Tikrit overnight. Until now, Iranian backed Shiite militias were leading the offensive with Iraqi forces. But now that the U.S. has entered the fight, those Iranian backed militias are boycotting the battle. "The New York Times" reporting that they are even threatening to attack Americans.

I want to bring in CNN's Jomana Karadsheh live from Baghdad -- Jomana.

JOMANA KARADSHEH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Christine, a complex situation there as you mentioned the militias were enemies of the United States when the U.S. military was here. Some of the groups were involved in numerous attacks on the U.S. military.

So, what we are seeing now is the U.S.-led coalition intervening at a time when the government of Iraq here has asked them for their assistance. Officials are telling us up until now, this operation to liberate Tikrit has been going on for a month. But they say, initially, they did not need the air support.

But things have changed. Requirements on the battle field according to officials, made it necessary for officials to ask for that superior air power, the precision airstrikes, and powerful airstrikes that the U.S. and the coalition can provide them with because of the way ISIS took positions within that city.

As we saw over the past few weeks, the Iraqi forces as you mentioned, the majority of them have been these Shia militias and volunteers working together with the Iranian advisers. These are the ones who have made the greatest advances around Tikrit. There are about 20,000 of them, with about 4,000 Iraqi security forces. The operation pretty much stalled for the past two weeks according to officials and fighters on the ground. They describe it as a tactical pause because of the resistance they met, improvised explosive devices that really stopped them from moving in the center of the city. Now, the United States cannot carry out airstrikes here without a

request from the Iraqi government. So, that's what happened. The Iraqi government requested the air strikes. Yesterday, we heard from General Lloyd Austin speaking at a Senate hearing. And he said that the U.S. involvement here was pre-conditioned with the Shia militias not involved in the clearing operations and that they will pull back.

We heard from the militias, no real unified stance. Some of them are saying that they are going to remain their positions and not take part in the final push into Tikrit. Others are describing this as the United States and coalition getting involved in the final stages after they did all the work and they describe this as the United States and coalition trying to steal their victories, Christine.

ROMANS: Oh, yes. So many complicated relationships in the region. Something like that certainly shows that.

Jomana Karadsheh, thank you so much for that, Jomana.

Thirteen minutes past the hour.

In New York City, a huge explosion rocking the East Village. Look at that. More than a dozen injured when a building suddenly erupts in fire and then collapses. More buildings are in danger at this moment. What we are learning this morning, next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[05:16:50] ROMANS: New York City's mayor says the huge explosion and fire that destroyed two buildings in Manhattan's East Village appears to be gas-related. Officials say two other buildings were damaged. One is in danger of collapsing. At least 19 people injured in this blast, four of them are in critical condition.

Witnesses say the explosion rocked the neighborhood.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

RUHEN MIAH, MANAGES NEARBY RESTAURANT: I was inside. I was inside in the back. And we heard a big noise and then we come out. I thought it was a car accident. Then I saw, like, smoke outside. It started a fire.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROMANS: City officials say gas utility inspectors were at the building just over an hour before the explosion.

Federal prosecutors say the FBI foiled an alleged attempt by an Illinois army national guardsman and his cousin, to attack a U.S. military base and kill scores of soldiers in the name of ISIS. Hasan Edmonds and his cousin Jonas are charged with conspiring to provide material support to a terrorist organization. Authorities arrested Hasan at Chicago's Midway Airport. He was, police say, trying to travel to Libya to fight with ISIS. Prosecutors in the trial of accused Boston marathon bomber Dzhokhar

Tsarnaev expected to rest their case on Monday. In court Thursday, jurors were shown six replica bombs built by the FBI. They also viewed graphic autopsy photos that had a number of jurors in tears. Tsarnaev is accused in the marathon attack that killed three people, injured more than 260. If convicted, he could get the death penalty.

From the big house to the halfway house, former Illinois Congressman Jesse Jackson Jr. arriving at a facility in Baltimore after his release from federal prison Thursday. Jackson has about six months left on a 30-month sentence after pleading guilty to using hundreds of thousands of dollars in campaign money to buy luxury items for himself and his family. A month after his sentence ends, Jackson's wife Sandy will begin serving a year in prison for filing false tax returns.

Gay rights proponents on the offence this morning after Indiana Governor Mike Pence signed a religious freedom bill into law Thursday, permitting business owners to deny their services to lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people, citing the business' religion.

Prominent names calling for a boycott of the state. The tech company Salesforce.com cancelled all company travel to Indiana. The NCAA, which is hosting the Final Four in Indianapolis, has also expressed concerns. Even a devout Christian group the Disciples of Christ now threatening to move its annual convention elsewhere.

Nineteen minutes past the hour. It wasn't a game. It was a shame as Kentucky keeps rolling into the elite eight and a step closer to an unbeaten championship season. Andy Scholes has the bleacher report, next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[05:23:16] ROMANS: Kentucky making it looked easy last night, wiping the floor with West Virginia. They are now on to the elite eight.

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

Boy, they looked good.

ANDY SCHOLES, CNN SPORTS CORRESPONDENT: Oh, they did, Christine. This is a lesson to all other teams in the tournament. Watch what you say about Kentucky when you are about to play them.

West Virginia's Daxter Miles Jr., he said before this game that afterwards, Kentucky would be 36-1 after this game. Well, that didn't really work out too well for him. The undefeated Wildcats came out on fire, jumping out to an 18-2 lead. Ashley Judd loving it in the stand.

Kentucky just kept pouring it on in this one. Check out, Andrew Harrison on the fast break. The crazy layup, plus the foul.

Kentucky would end up doubling up West Virginia, 78-39. They improve to a perfect 37-0.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOHN CALIPARI, KENTUCKY HEAD COACH: We had teams talk before the game. I mean, what is someone going to come in and say we're going to lose, and they're going to say they're going to win. But what we say is that at some point, you've got to step into the ring. We lift the rope, you got to come in here.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SCHOLES: Wildcats players had some fun with Mountaineers prediction after the game. My favorite, Devon Booker's tweet that simply read, "36-won", with won spelled w-o-n.

Tigers quarterback Aaron Rodgers and his girlfriend Olivia Munn were taken into Wisconsin, North Carolina game last night. This one was close throughout. About a minute to go, Sam Decker, nice move in the lane. That's what the Badgers up by four. Decker, he led the way for Wisconsin with 23 points, and they would hit their free throws down the stretch to beat the Tar Heels, 79-72.

Wisconsin will now move on to face Arizona in the elite eight, which should be a great game. Wildcats made big shots with Xavier to get the win in that one, 68-60.

[05:25:06] Notre Dame also moves on to the elite eight with a win over Wichita State.

Sweet 16 will wrap up tonight with four more games. Action gets started with Gonzaga and UCLA. You can watch the games on CBS and our sister station TBS.

Finally, this is one of the coolest stories we're going to have all year. Legendary coach Dean Smith who passed away last month willed every player that letter for him in North Carolina, $200. One of coach Smith's former players tweeted out this picture of the letter and the check they received from Coach Smith's trust.

The $200 came with simple instructions. Enjoy a dinner out compliments of Coach Dean Smith. Letters were out to 180 former players.

And, Christine, some of the players have already gone on record saying they have no plan of cashing the check. They're simply going to frame it so every time they look at it, they can remember and think of Coach Smith.

ROMANS: Wow.

SCHOLES: Just an awesome gesture.

ROMANS: It really is.

All right. Thanks for that Andy Scholes. Have a nice weekend, Andy.

SCHOLES: You, too. ROMANS: Happening now, investigators trying to figure out why the co- pilot of Germanwings Flight 9525 deliberately crashed that plane. Big investigation into his mental health and background. Live team coverage, next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ROMANS: Happening now: Prosecutors painting a picture of the final moments on board the Germanwings Flight 9525. The co- pilot locking the captain out of the cockpit, deliberately crashing into the mountain, killing himself and everyone else onboard. This morning, investigators trying to figure out why he did that, as crews recovering remains of victims face a daunting task.

[05:30:05] Live team coverage starts now.