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FBI Involved In Federal Investigation Into Amtrak Derailment; Helicopter Carrying Six Marines And Two Nepalese Soldiers Crash. Aired 3:30-4p ET

Aired May 19, 2015 - 15:30   ET

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


[15:30:00] S.E. CUPP, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: Sort of, you know, relaxing a little bit, getting a little bit more comfortable. If he sort of lets his guard down a little in the next few years, couple years, I think we'll see a softer side of the president.

BROOKE BALDWIN, CNN HOST: S.E. Cupp, always great to have you on. Thank you, my friend. I appreciate it.

CUPP: Thanks, Brooke.

BALDWIN: Coming up next, did something hit the front of that Amtrak train in Philadelphia before it derailed? You see the picture here. The FBI, we now know, is involved in that investigation. We have the latest for you there.

Also, a terrifying tweet from a hacker. He says he took control of a plane's engine while it was in the air. A tech expert and a pilot join me live next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[15:35:01] BALDWIN: You're watching CNN. I'm Brooke Baldwin.

Here's an update out of Philadelphia. We know the FBI is involved in that federal investigation into the deadly derailment of the Amtrak train. Agency experts will look into whether an object hit the train right before it derailed. They're specifically examining this mark on the train's windshield. And for the first time since last week's crash, Amtrak put trains back into service today along that northeast corridor between Philadelphia and New York city.

Meantime, a lawsuit was filed today against Amtrak on behalf of four wounded passengers. And President Barack Obama traveled to Philadelphia to meet with city leaders and emergency officials and to thank them for their quick response to that fatal derailment.

A cyber-security consultant says he found a way to hack into the computer systems of multiple airlines while he was on board those planes as a passenger. He is Chris Roberts. He has told the FBI that he even managed to take control of the engines on one plane.

But here's the thing. There doesn't appear to be any concrete proof from any airline or U.S. officials that Roberts actually pulled this off. In a tweet about his alleged endeavors, this is what he says. Quote, "over the last five years, my interest has been to improve aircraft security, given the current situation I've been advised against saying too much." So that was his tweet. He still could face criminal charges.

Joining me from Washington is RSA security product senior vice president Grant Geyer. And here with me in New York, Les Abend, CNN aviation analyst and captain of Boeing 777.

So fentlemen, welcome.

GRANT GEYER, PRODUCT SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT, RSA: Thank you.

LES ABEND, CNN AVIATION ANALYST: Hi, Brooke.

BALDWIN: And to you first. How does he, Grant, how does he say he pulled this off?

GEYER: Well, if what the FBI is saying is true, it would be like putting a hacker directly in the jump seat of an aircraft. What you need to know is that computers don't just sit on our desk tops these days. They sit in our mobile devices. They control the power grids. And yes, they're in airplanes as well. And any computer system, if not properly protected, can be hacked.

Now, what Roberts is saying that he said he connected his laptop into the seat electronic box, which is located in some aircraft directly under the seat, and from there just using a simple username and password, the default ones, was able to break into the in-flight entertainment system and from there jump electronically into the system control aircraft.

BALDWIN: And he said he did this multiple times, yes?

GEYER: Yes. He said he's done it many times over the past several years. He's a well-known researcher in the security space, and he studies something called the internet of things. He presented it at a conference earlier this year, the RSA security conference, on how power control systems that control the electronic grid could be taken down with information of simply available across the internet.

BALDWIN: OK. This is very frightening if true. But Les, I'm sitting two and a half feet from you, and I can feel the eye roll coming on. I mean, you are not buying this at all.

ABEND: It's not that I'm not buying it at all, it's just, is it possible, is it plausible? Certainly it is, but what I know -- remember, I'm a pilot. I operate the systems. I didn't design the systems. However, what my understanding of the systems is, you can't mix entertainment and interface it with flight controls and engines, OK. He claims that he did some sort of control input to the airplane. Pilots would have reported this.

BALDWIN: He says he claims he changed the altitude, I think, at one point.

ABEND: Altitude or turned the aircraft. Whatever it is. I mean, the pilots, if they were -- didn't have input or flight input that wasn't under their control, they would have reported something to that effect.

BALDWIN: You're saying a pilot would have noticed.

ABEND: Would have noticed. And if it occurred to any length of time that this happened, we have back-up systems, you know. We have ways -- if we have a fly-by-wire airplane, and by the way, fly by wire doesn't mean fly by Wi-Fi. We are able to totally disconnect that system and almost fly the airplane manually. We're sending electronic signals to flight controls.

But I'm very skeptical this guy was able to do it. You would have to have a separate piece of equipment that would go into our electronics bay inside the fuselage of the aircraft and be able to guide this airplane, either from the cabin, from the ground. You know, we talked about this on other discussions with other airplane incidents. But I'm just very skeptical, and then he tweeted. This is interference with a flight crew. This is a federal offense. And he made this public that he was - I just, there are so many aspects about it.

BALDWIN: Grant, let me -- I just want to have you respond to what you're hearing from Les. And you're hearing the skepticism and then questions over obviously the how. Can you respond to that, knowing who this guy is?

[15:49:56] GEYER: Yes, Brooke. Roberts himself has admitted that this would be very difficult to do, while possible, very difficult to do. At the same time, you know, I've seen many, many systems that while people claim that they can't be connected, you find out that there are sometimes workarounds available, well, that people could get from system "a" to system "b."

I think at the end of the day, I think this completely irresponsible that if this vulnerability that it did exist, it should be notified to law enforcement and notify to the airlines in private so it could be fixed before it would be known to the public where it creates any type of panic or concern unnecessarily.

BALDWIN: OK.

ABEND: We shouldn't dismiss it totally. I mean, it's indeed plausible, but I think we've got newer airplanes. The Boeing 787, the airbus 350, and presently the airbus 380, one of the biggest commercial planes in the world, that those planes may be susceptible to it. But when we take our families from New York to Disney World, I think you're going to get there safely.

BALDWIN: Les Abend, thank you so much. Grant Geyer, appreciate you for jumping on as well today. Both of you, thank you.

Next here, survivors of the Boston marathon bombing, they are reacting here still days after the man convicted in that terrorist attack learned his fate. We were breaking on it on Friday. We have more reaction to the death penalty verdict. You will hear, in fact, from one of the women who lost her leg. She is a survivor. She'll join me live next.

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[15:40:31] BALDWIN: The death sentence for Dzhokhar Tsarnaev may provide some closure for the city of Boston, if you believe there is such a thing as closure after that horrific tragedy two years ago, and then for the families of those four victims. But for this convicted terrorist, this marathon bomber, it likely sets up a long appeals process. The verdict did bring an end to a brutal and emotionally exhausting trial full of dramatic testimony and images of a horrific attack.

Joining me from Portland, Maine, Boston bombing survivor Karen McWatters.

Karen, lovely to have you on.

KAREN MCWATTERS, BOSTON BOMBING SURVIVOR: Thank you.

BALDWIN: Before we talk about him, I want to talk about you. And I want to talk about Krystle Campbell, who lost her life that day. You went to the marathon with her to watch her boyfriend run, the marathon. And if you can, just take me back to those moments there in Boylston Street in April of 2013.

MCWATTERS: Yes, I mean, it just happened so fast. We went there to watch Kevin run. And we were trying to get a good spot to take a picture when the first bomb went off. And that's where we were standing. Like you said, it happened so fast. One minute I was looking down at my cell phone. The next I was on the ground.

BALDWIN: And I understand you held Krystle's hand in those final moments.

MCWATTERS: Yes, I tried to find her. It was just so chaotic. And you know, just get close so I could talk to her. And our heads ended up being right together. But she only said a couple words, and then she passed out. So she didn't really get to say too much.

BALDWIN: You shared some of this as you testified as part of this trial in Boston. And there you were, so many survivors were, in the same room, sharing the same oxygen as him. What was that like for you?

MCWATTERS: I had a lot of anxiety about it leading up to it. And I know some of the other people that had to testify and relive their stories did too. But actually, for me, once I got in court and I was sitting so close to him that I could see him that closely, I was anxious to say my story and tell my part of it. When I was done, I had a tremendous relief. I felt so good that I could finally say it and have that part of that testimony be off -- that weight off my shoulders.

BALDWIN: And now that we know he will be put to death, is that justice in your mind? How did you react when you heard? MCWATTERS: I was shocked, actually. I mean, I thought it would be

life. Not because I think he deserve the death penalty for what he did, but just - people, yes, wanting it to be, you know, people don't believe in the death penalty as much as they used to. I think with one juror would maybe hold out and not give him a death penalty. So I was really surprised.

Also for me, I think we had decided no matter what the jury came back with, we would support them. They had a really difficult job to do. And whether it was life or death, that we would be happy. For me, my victory day, my closure day was when the jury came back with the 30 counts of guilt.

BALDWIN: He's a terrorist. And he will be put to death at some point. Though, there could be a long appeals process, could take years. But let me just end with you, Karen. Tell me, you know, I think the survivor community out of this whole Boston event has been pretty phenomenal, just to talk to all of you. Tell me how you're carrying on.

MCWATTERS: I'm doing great. And you know, it's been nice to have made friends with a lot of the other amputees and to talk about, you know, our legs and our feet and how we're walking and what we're doing and not always have everything -- the focus be about the trial and, you know, the negative things about it. And you know, we have to move on. And we have to carry on the best that we possibly can. So it's been nice to do that.

But also, you know, everybody is doing a lot of things to give back. A lot of foundations have been started. Kevin and I helped a girl come here from El Salvador to get a leg. That kept us really, really busy when we need to stay busy and focus on something more positive. So a lot of people are doing great things. And I think that's the focus, I hope, even though there's going to be a lot of appeals process. I hope the focus is on a lot of the good things that come out of it.

BALDWIN: All right, Karen McWatters, I just wanted to end on the great things from you and many of those survivors from that horrible two years ago. Thank you so much. I admire your strength, and best of luck to you.

[15:50:08] MCWATTERS: Thank you very much.

BALDWIN: Thank you.

Coming up next, the families of American heroes speaking out for the first time about the marines who lost their lives in that helicopter crash while helping victims of the Nepal earthquakes. Stay here.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[15:52:12] BALDWIN: It was the most crucial of missions taking aid to some of the hardest-hit villages, the people there of Nepal. But for reasons still unknown to us, a helicopter carrying six marines and two in a Nepalese soldiers crash while on earthquake relief mission just last week killing all eight people onboard. Their bodies arrived in the capital city of Kathmandu early Sunday morning as the investigation into what caused the crash continues. But they're deaths will not be in vain.

Marine Corps lieutenant general Johnny Whistler says the mission will go on, but I just wanted to stop today and talk a little more about who these six marines were and how they'll be remembered.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BALDWIN (voice-over): Six fallen American heroes lost their lives helping the victims at Nepal's deadly earthquakes. The marines killed in Tuesday's helicopter crash in the mountains of Nepal have been identified. Their squadron was just a week from returning home when they got the call that Nepal desperately needed their help. The aircraft's pilot was Chris Norgren, a native of Kansas. His parents say his passion for flying started at an early age.

TERRI NORGREN, MOTHER OF CHRIS NORGREN: I know in my heart that Chris is doing what he wanted to do. He's always loved life and loved god and his family, and he was doing what he needed to do to be able to help them, and I'm so proud of everything that he's done and accomplished.

BALDWIN: Captain Dustin Lukasiewicz, another pilot onboard. He was from Nebraska and the "Omaha World Herald" reports his wife is pregnant with their second. Captain Lukasiewicz was just featured in the defense department video.

CAPT. DUSTIN LUKASIEWICZ, U.S. MARINE CORPS: My name is Captain Lukasiewicz and we stand with Nepal. So we were able to deliver some rice, potatoes and tarts up to smaller villages, just east of Kathmandu, areas that more difficult to get to via any sort of ground transportation.

BALDWIN: That very video shot by Lance Corporal Jacob Hug, a combat videographer from Arizona who was also killed in this crash.

Another marine featured in the defense department video was Sergeant Ward Johnson IV, a helicopter crew chief from Florida.

SGT. WARD JOHNSON IV, U.S. MARINE CORPS: We delivered over 68,000 pounds of needed supplies for the outer villages and we also plan to deliver another 140,000 pounds before we leave.

BALDWIN: The corporal, Sara Medina was a combat photographer, also onboard this helicopter, the one in behind the lens of these remarkable images. The governor in her home state of Illinois calls Medina's courage and dedication a role model for all of us.

Sergeant Eric Seaman was also helicopter crew chief on this very flight. The California native was a husband and a father. On a Go Fund Me account set up for this family, his mother-in-law says this. Thank you for this. I just want the world to know my son-in-law was great man and a true hero. He was what a man is supposed to be. Eric Seaman's wife Samantha remembered the love of her life. SAMANTHA SEAMAN, WIFE OF ERIC SEAMAN: He always told me that he

wanted to serve his country and make a difference, and he loved flying and he was a great crew chief.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[15:57:49] BALDWIN: Well, I wanted to share something personal with you before we send to do me colleague, Jake Tapper in Washington because it is that time of the year, right, when the class of 2015 is graduating and maybe you had a graduate over this past weekend. I know I was just -- I watched Tim Cook, he spoke over the weekend at George Washington University.

Somebody who shared my high school alma mater at Helms, funny man Ed Helms, he spoke again at University of Virginia. I got to speak with UNC Chapel Hill last year. And just this past weekend, I was so honored to go back to my roots in Atlanta and to speak at my high school to these amazing graduates, class of 2015, in my Carolina blue robe at the Westminster's School. Here is just a piece of the very end of some wisdom I was hoping imparted. Here I was.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: As I close here today, I just want to look forward together and like T.S. Elliot (ph) said to that notion of ceaseless exploration, what's next for you? Maybe not exactly what you think. Maybe some unexpected fork in the road, like the one that literally landed me in this Carolina blue robe, I can't begin to guess, but I can say this for sure. You definitely have some mountains to climb. You have moments that somehow you will have to overcome to reach the summit. You have people to meet and places to go and mistakes to make and lots of learning to do. I don't know exactly where you're going and quite honestly I don't know exactly where I'm going next, either. But I can tell you for certain when you come back here and you stand where I am standing and you look into the eyes of very excited Westminster graduates, you will know this place for the first time and you will know yourselves in a way you never thought possible.

With that, ladies and gentlemen, I will see you at the top of your mountains. Congratulations, class of 2015, go get them! Go get them.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: What an awesome honor. So the Westminster's schools thank you for having me back. I actually stood in that exact same spot 18 years ago as senior class president giving a little speech. I pinched myself then, pinch myself now. Thank you so much. Congrats to all of you, class of 2015.

I'm Brooke Baldwin, thank you for being with me. "THE LEAD" with Jake Tapper starts now.