Return to Transcripts main page

CNN Newsroom

Aircraft Debris Believed to be Part of Boeing 777 Found; Former University Police Officer Facing Murder Charges in Shooting Death of Unarmed Man. Aired 3:30-4p ET

Aired July 30, 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] BRIAN ALEXANDER, HIS LAW FIRM REPRESENTING 40 FAMILIES OF MH370: Maybe additional pieces, we hope, will be found in the same area and all of this things may help for them to ultimately do what is most important, and that's to find the main pieces of the wreckage and the flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder which is most telling as to what the cause was.

BROOKE BALDWIN, CNN HOST: And then as far as compensation goes? Where is that sound with the family?

ALEXANDER: Well, you know, from a legal perspective, you know, this is an international flight. There are treaties in place that govern the legal recourse and the remedies which - or even maybe more important now as these folks maybe start to wake up with dealing deal with tomorrow. This has been this ridiculous holding pattern that they've been in and torture us. And now, they might need to really start to think about compensation and trying to take care of themselves for a long future without a husband or wife or having lost a loved one.

So I think that legally, the course is fairly set. The airline is going to be responsible for compensating these families. This may lead to clues, though, that from an aviation safety perspective as well as legal threat and show us there may be other parties involved as well. We still don't know and can't rule out that there may have been something wrong with the aircraft which is important to discover.

BALDWIN: Brian Alexander, thank you very much.

ALEXANDER: Thank you, Brooke.

BALDWIN: Coming up here, could be a key piece of evidence here in the search of this missing plane? What is this piece? What does it do? I want to help you better understand what it is because we'll take you to a tarmac. We will look firsthand at this Boeing 777 in the plane part that is now really sort of the focus of the investigation. We talked to an expert there who actually noticed something on this plane you are looking at that is missing on the piece of the island. We'll show you up close, next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[15:35:55] BALDWIN: All right. You're watching CNN. I'm Brooke Baldwin. Back tour breaking story here. A source tells CNN that Boeing

officials are confident that the plane debris found on an island off Madagascar off of Africa matches the model 777. Of course, that very same model as the missing Malaysian airlines flight 370.

I have Nick Valencia who is live on the tarmac outside of that company that actually manages these storages of some of these airplanes like 777, their parts. And so, this is so helpful, Nick. Because you can walk us through, you know, when we are looking this piece on this island, this flaperon, please show me what it actually is.

NICK VALENCIA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Universal asset management here in Tupelo, Mississippi, is a place that knows a lot about aviation, Brooke, specifically a lot about the Boeing 777. And the resident expert here, Michael Kenney, the senior vice president Universal Asset Management.

Thanks for taking the time with CNN.

MICHAEL KENNEY, SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT, UNIVERSAL ASSET MANAGEMENT: Thank you, Nick.

VALENCIA: So we've heard a lot in the last few days about a flaperon. We're looking at a Boeing 777, one of the two that you have here. Point us out to our viewers here, what is a flaperon? What does it do and where is it on the wing?

KENNEY: The flaperon you can find between these two bigger structures.

VALENCIA: So that's part right there in the middle?

KENNEY: That part right there in the middle. These are called flaps. And a flaperon is a combination of flaps and an averon which sits on the outer edge of the wing. Averon controls the roll of the aircraft. The flaps control the aircraft being able to fly at greatest lift at lower speeds.

VALENCIA: And this flaperon control - what is it actually do? How important is it to an aircraft of this size?

KENNEY: Yes. It's fairly important because it actually extends out from the wing at takeoff and landing and like the flaps creates a greater lift at that lower speed.

VALENCIA: And we've brought one right here eye level so we can show our viewers, we have an expert here that knows a lot about this. And specifically, investigators are going to try to tie that debris back to Reunion -- that they found in Reunion Island, to MH 370. How do they do that? What are some of the marking points on that?

KENNEY: Yes. This is from a 777. And on any component you can identify it by a data plate which is somewhere external to the part itself.

VALENCIA: And on the image that you're showing here, (INAUDIBLE), it seems to be and this is the debris here, it seems to be missing from that portion. Is that right?

KENNEY: Yes. We have a photo here of the debris itself from Reunion and the data plate would be in that section of the component and it is gone.

VALENCIA: What about the damage? You are talking about the damage. Tell us what that could signify. What does that mean? There's a lot of theories about how MH370 disappeared. The damage that you're noticing on this flaperon, what does that tell you?

KENNEY: Yes. I mean, again, back to the picture, if you look at the damage here which we see up here in the left-hand corner as well in the back of the component, on a clean component, there's a lot of actuation and hinges tied to it. That's gone. It looks like it's forcibly removed.

VALENCIA: So this is a significant amount of force that tore this thing off?

KENNEY: Yes. And this component, as I mentioned, sits into the wing itself. So it's not surprising that there's not damage here. The fact that there's damage on the back end of the component, where it looks like a section was ripped away, which would be the area closest to the, you know, the outside of the airplane I think is really important.

VALENCIA: Take us to the other side here, Michael, because you were telling us a little bit about some of the distinguishing qualities that this flaperon on the Boeing 777 has compared to let's say an airbus or another airplane. Walk us through that.

KENNEY: Yes. I mean, the flaperon has specific actuating points for where it's connected to the aircraft. On the 777, we had the one that we looked at over there and you have got another one here.

VALENCIA: That's the mounting point right here?

KENNEY: It's a mounting point. And if we can see in the picture, that matches exactly to the component that they found in reunion. Not only the mounting point, but this section of the component itself, it's all identical.

VALENCIA: You were one of the leading experts not just in the state of Mississippi but somewhat say in the nation on 777s. You've been following this since the very beginning. What's your insight into what you're looking at there, what investigators have found and what your knowledge tells us about what happened?

KENNEY: We obviously have a component, a really big piece from the aircraft itself that is close to the external portion of the airplane that was forcibly removed from an aircraft in some form or fashion. We talked before about this component is made of composite technology, carbon technology. And so it's not surprising that we found something like this.

[15:40:10] VALENCIA: This is buoyant? KENNEY: This is going to be more buoyant versus maybe some of the

other parts on the airplane or original components like this that would have been made out of an aluminum or metal alloy. It's not surprising that we found it but it's significant, comparing to these photos, that we can identify this is a part off of a 777 and it came out of the water. That's really important.

VALENCIA: And it appears to be a bit west of the specific search area that investigators were focusing on.

KENNEY: Yes.

VALENCIA: What does that tell you, Michael?

KENNEY: Again, being buoyant, and it is hallow component. There's a lot of ribbing structure here even some concealed spaces. It's not surprising that this could move around because versus other pieces, it's not going to settle down to the ground of the ocean floor.

VALENCIA: You got it. Thank you, Michael Kenney, senior vice president with Universal Assent Management for the incredible insight.

This could be the insight that investigators need to provide closure for those families, Brooke, that were on that aircraft or to provide hope for something that could potentially happen - Brooke.

BALDWIN: Nick Valencia, thank you so much.

Let me turn to this piece of breaking news that we are just now getting in here from the city of Baltimore. Of course, we've been covering the death of 24-year-old Freddie Gray there in custody of Baltimore police custody. Here is what we have just learned.

There's been a filing from defense attorneys representing the six Baltimore police officers who are now criminally charged. This is their conflict of interest that they are citing here, the fact that within Marilyn Mosby's office, she is the Baltimore state's attorney, her deputy state attorney has apparently, who is by the way, prosecuting these six police officers, once represented Freddie Gray in an unrelated 2012 criminal case.

So again, the defense attorneys are saying that's a conflict of interest. Let me read for you briefly what Marilyn Mosby's office is now saying in response to that. Unfortunately, in Baltimore city, many defendants become victims of crime. Lawyers also change roles within a legal profession defending an individual one day does not preclude an attorney from fighting for justice for that same individual the next.

Coming up here on CNN, what the ocean currents in the Indian Ocean could reveal about this newly discovered plane debris and where it might have come from.

And later, a former University of Cincinnati police officer charged with murdering an unarmed man wearing a very different uniform here in court today. It was a pretty tense moment. We'll take you there, coming up.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[15:46:45] BALDWIN: It has been nearly a year and a half since flight 370 vanished. The discovery of this piece of debris near the Island of Madagascar off the coast of Africa has investigators racing to determine if this piece of wreckage could possibly be from that missing plane.

Sources tell CNN the number stenciled on this debris match a Boeing 777 part. So for the oceanography angle of all of this, let me go to my colleague, Jennifer Gray, our meteorologist.

And so, when we're talking so much about the Indian Ocean and where they have been searching and where this popped up, what are the currents in this part of the world like?

JENNIFER GRAY, METEOROLOGIST: Well, you know, we've been talking about this for the past year and a half. Is it possible that this could drift as far as it has? And basically, the short answer is yes. This is the most interesting illustration that I think we've come up with when talking about these currents.

We basically put Reunion Island a big "x" right here. And then this address or will compute where it could have possibly originated from. And so we put the "x" on Reunion Island and we went back in time a year and four months and the areas highlighted in red are the areas that it most likely, based on currents and probability, where it could have originated from. And I think it's extremely interesting that some of the areas highlighted are right here, basically where the current search area is, and then right up here in the North Indian Ocean and that's one of the last known positions of the aircraft.

And so looking at this technology, it definitely shows you that, yes, it's a possibility that it could have originated here and ended up all the way across the ocean - Brooke.

BALDWIN: Jennifer Gray, thank you very much.

Let me bring in Clive Irving, the author of "Jumbo, the making of the 747" and contributor with "the Daily Beast."

Clive, obviously, I read your piece in "the Daily Beast" and I want to get to multiple points you made but let me begin with the picture that we are going to be able to show our viewers for the first time because apparently -- I should be very precise here in my language. What washed up with this piece of debris is what appears to be what resembles a passenger's suitcase, very tattered and torn passenger suitcase. And it is important because officials are telling us this is part of the investigation. How do you interpret this?

CLIVE IRVING, AUTHOR, JUMBO, THE MAKING OF THE 747: Well, I think it's very important. I think what is astonishing about this, Brooke, is that you can get so much information from such a single, small -- relatively small piece of the plane and where the investigators are going to look in particular, in relation to that piece is, does it tell us anything about how the plane hit the ocean? They want to know that.

And I spoke to an expert on the 777 equal to the kind of experts you've been talking to you as well. And he told me that it didn't look as though the plane had hit the ocean with a great impact. In fact, this would be consistent with the theory that the plane ran out of gas before it his, it flew a so-called zombie flight, six hours, ran out of gas and then spiraled down in a long glide and hit the water in a kind of ditching motion, as though a plane ditched in the water would do that.

So this piece broke away and it has got a story of its own to tell because of the way it broke away and part of that story is that it wasn't relatively intact itself, which means that if the plane -- if that is the true story, what happens to plane when it hit the water. Then, it does correspond to one of the leading theories of what happened to that plane. But there is no hidden intervention on the flight deck for six hours and it flew itself on the ground and gas into the water. So it is interesting you work back and find this single piece of wreckage that in fact does lead to the wreckage, one of the major theories, it's astonishing. And the suitcase is also interesting. I will be a little bit more leery about the suitcase.

[15:50:33] BALDWIN: Well, let me jump in the suitcase, if I may. Because I was also handed this piece of information, not only now is it officially considered part of the investigation, the remains of this potential suitcase will actually likely go to this French forensic lab where the piece of debris will be heading in Toulouse, in Paris in a couple of days. So you have that.

And I know you jumped ahead five steps. But let me just take you back, I mean, sort of the thrust of your "Daily Beast" piece, if I'm correct here, I mean, you say there is little doubt this piece of the plane is from ma-370.

IRVING: Well, this is a simple equation. Because if we can prove that it is from a 777, there's only one 777 that's missing, it is flight 370. The 777 has a very good safety record. And there is no other case of a 777 there against the water. So, I think it (INAUDIBLE) situation. If it is 777, it's got to be from 370.

BALDWIN: Clive Irving, we'll talk again. Thank you so much for joining me. I appreciate it.

Next, we have to talk about Cincinnati, major developments there out of this Ohio city, a former university police officers facing murder charges in the shooting death of the unarmed man on the right side of your screen. This officer in court for the very first time, entering his plea, and then there was this moment when the judge set his bail at $1 million.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The court is going to ensure his appearance, the bond will be $1 million. Ladies and gentlemen, this is a courtroom. You will conduct yourselves at all times.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[15:56:05] BALDWIN: It lasted only three minutes, and the not guilty plea for former university of Cincinnati police officers indicted for murder. Ray Tensing walked in wearing a black and gray stripe jumpsuit. He's accused of killing Samuel Dubose, following a traffic stop no eleven days ago. And there was one very tense moment.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The defendant is facing the possibility of life in prison. It's the court's duty to ensure his appearance. The bond will be $1 million any way.

(APPLAUSE)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Ladies and gentlemen, this is a courtroom. You will conduct yourselves at all times appropriately.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: This, as we see new body camera video. Now in issue, the story he told arriving officers about what happened, Tensing said he was forced to shoot after almost being run over.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm getting dragged behind, got caught, I think by my pants. He drug me -- I think I'm good, yes.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: Prosecutors say tensing's police report directly contradicts what that video show.

Joining me now from Cincinnati, CNN correspondent and attorney Jean Casarez.

So, you saw Officer Tensing in that courtroom. How did he appear to you?

JEAN CASAREZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Tall, very tall, stressed, serious, focused, everything you would hope that a defendant could be facing murder. I've got to tell you, it was a packed courtroom. I mean, wall to wall of people were standing.

And you know, everybody is talking about the defense, because the defense is saying that the officer was dragged, and when did it all start? How did he get tangled up, if he did get tangled up? Well, I just had a sit-down interview with the attorney for this young officer, and my question was, why did he put his hand inside the car? Listen to the response he tells me.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) STEWART MATTHEWS, RAY TENSING'S ATTORNEY: If you watch the tape, he -- Officer Tensing was not satisfied with the responses he was getting. He wanted to confirm the identity of Mr. Dubose. And so, he wanted him to step out of the vehicle. Officer Tensing attempted to open the door at which time you see Dubose pull the door shut with one hand. And with his other hand, he's sticking the key in the ignition, instantly dropping down to the gearshift, putting it in drive and mashing the gas pedal and taking off.

Officer tensing felt that he was close enough and kind of leaning into the car, felt he could reach in -- this is his mistake -- he thought he could reached in and get the key out of the ignition and stop Mr. Dubose from leaving.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CASAREZ: So he was trying to take the keys out of the ignition? That's what the defense is saying.

Now, as far as the bond, a million dollar bond set, but that means $100,000 cash. His attorney just told me minutes ago, they are trying to make that bond. People are calling in, they want to give donations. They can't use real estate, because they don't have enough equity in the home. It's got to be a million dollar home, $2 million home to do that in the state of Ohio, so they're trying to get the cash.

BALDWIN: Quickly here on the audio of the body cam, I know yesterday, the prosecutor was asked if the officer tried to mislead investigators, looking into this whole incident, you know, what does the new video show? Thirty seconds, Jean?

CASAREZ: The new video, according to the defense, and we're looking at it too, it's a split second, at the beginning of it for five seconds, you sue the officer on the ground. They're saying that's the proof right there that shows he was dragged. What the prosecutor is saying is that the evidence shows there was no dragging at all, and it is because we have brought these murder charges because of that video.

BALDWIN: Again, it was the sister at the news conference speaking about her brother, Samuel Dubose, saying that she knew the video would vindicate her brother.

Jean Casarez, thank you so much.

I'm Brooke Baldwin here in New York. Thanks for watching. "The LEAD" with Jake Tapper starts now.