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Tropical Storm Ernesto; U.S. Airways Flight Makes Emergency Landing in Tennessee Due to Threatening Note on Board; Comair Crash; Hurricane Katrina: One Year Later

Aired August 28, 2006 - 14:02   ET

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

KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: And this coming in to us. Apparently, a plane has been diverted. It's now landed in Bristol. The Tri-Cities Airport there has been shut down in Bristol, Tennessee.
It's a U.S. Airways flight. A suspicious note was found on that aircraft. So now we're getting word that the flight had been diverted.

Trying to figure out where it was coming from. OK. It was going from Houston to Philadelphia, and it was diverted to the Tri-Cities Airport in Tennessee. That airport being shut down as investigators responding to the scene to see what the suspicious note on U.S. Airways is all about.

Once again, it was coming from Houston, headed to Philadelphia. It's been diverted. It landed in Bristol, Tennessee.

Our Jeanne Meserve, homeland security correspondent, working it for us now. We'll bring you more information as soon as we get it.

Meanwhile, bracing for Ernesto, Florida is under a state of emergency as forecasters fear the season's fifth named storm could once again be a hurricane after it clears Cuba. Its not just the keys at risk. Ernesto's projected path would carry it across nearly the entire state of Florida. Governor Jeb Bush is warning everybody not to underestimate Ernesto.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GOV. JEB BUSH (R), FLORIDA: The message for today is, for the people that are in the areas where there has been a hurricane watch, is to get prepared. To implement your family preparedness plan, to know if you're asked to evacuate exactly where you'll go, to make sure that you have the necessary supplies to live comfortably for 72 hours after the storm passes.

It sounds like a broken record, but I can assure you that if families do that, if they fortify their homes, and if they don't have to evacuate, if they can shelter in place and have the necessary food and water to be able to get through the first 72 hours, then the whole community will recover far faster.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: Many Floridians are filling up, and not just their cars. They're taking gas home to run generators in case of blackouts. And what about the gas stations? Well, about one in five can run on generators, too.

Florida tomorrow, Cuba today. Ernesto slammed into southeast Cuba this morning, about 20 miles west of the U.S. naval base at Guantanamo Bay. Its winds have slowed down, but the rain has been fierce.

CNN's Morgan Neill is in Havana.

Bring us up to date, Morgan.

MORGAN NEILL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Kyra, you might not be able to tell looking at the picture we have here in Havana, in the capital of Cuba, this sunny day with fairly clear skies. But in southeast Cuba, as you say, Ernesto has been ashore for several hours now.

The latest we're hearing from the meteorological center here in Cuba is that the rains have become a bit less intense, which is a good sign because, of course, the big deal here is flooding. And also, this is the most surprising of the news we've heard so far -- that tells you something about the path of the storm -- is that some people who had been evacuated over the weekend have now been told they can go home.

Now, on those preparations they were intense this weekend, starting Saturday night. Hurricanes alert -- hurricane alerts were put out in parts of the south and east of the country, and that means specific measures were taken.

People began to be evacuated to a height of what we've seen some 300,000 people evacuated. Livestock and heavy machinery moved to safe areas. In addition, you see the television and the radio here, both run by the government, have been giving out nonstop updates on it, as well as telling people what they need to be doing and what to look out for. For example, not to step on any downed cables, to look out and not try to cross any flooded areas, and not to assume that the storm has ended just because winds have died down.

But to recap, the latest we've heard is the call we just put into the meteorological center here, and they say that the rains have let up somewhat and some people are already being told they can return to their homes -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Morgan, it seems like just a couple weeks ago we were talking so much about Fidel Castro and his condition. Have you heard from Cuba's leader, and has he been in public or made any speeches, particularly since this has now happened?

NEILL: Kyra, no, we haven't heard any new updates in the last week on President Fidel Castro's condition. It is interesting during these hurricanes, because this is the time when Cubans in the past have been accustomed to seeing the president really seem to take charge of the preparations. That's something he did for many years. So, this is -- in fact, this will be the first hurricane in which Cubans go through -- or the first storm, I should say, at this point that Cubans are having to confront without President Fidel Castro at the helm. Rather, they have acting president, Raul Castro -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Morgan Neill, live from Havana.

Thanks, Morgan.

Now, when weather becomes the news, you can become a CNN correspondent. If you see severe weather happening, just send it to us as an I-Report. Go to CNN.com and click on "I-Report," or type in ireport@cnn.com on your cell phone and share your pictures or video with us. We'll get it on the air.

Let's get straight now to Homeland Security Correspondent Jeanne Meserve. She's working that developing story for us, that U.S. Airways flight. Some type of suspicious note.

What do we know, Jeanne?

JEANNE MESERVE, CNN HOMELAND SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: We don't know very much at this point in time, Kyra.

We do know that it was a flight that was flying from Philadelphia to Houston, and some sort of note was found which included a bomb threat. We don't have any specifics on what it said, where it was found, or if there's been any indication of a bomb. But the flight did put down at the Tri-Cities Airport in Bristol, Tennessee. That's right near the Tennessee-Kentucky line.

And U.S. government officials tell me that the FBI is on the scene, as well as the Transportation Security Administration, explosive detection K-9 teams, and the like, as they go through that aircraft and undoubtedly talk to the passengers about this note that was found -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Any idea how many passengers were on board?

MESERVE: No. I asked that very question. We don't have that information yet.

PHILLIPS: All right. Jeanne Meserve working it for us right now.

Appreciate it.

MESERVE: You bet.

PHILLIPS: Well, of all the worries air travelers face these days, taking off from the wrong runway hasn't been high on the list, but from all indications that was the cause of yesterday's deadly Comair crash in Lexington, Kentucky, giving rise to the question, why?

CNN's Jason Carroll has the latest now -- Jason. JASON CARROLL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Still trying to determine the answer to that question, Kyra. Why? Why did this jet take off from the wrong runway?

Just a short while ago representatives from the National transportation Safety Board gave a briefing where they did confirm that yesterday, before the Comair jet took off, the crew did, in fact, have a conversation with the pilot. I mean -- excuse me, with the air traffic controller.

The air traffic controller made it very clear that they were supposed to take off on runway 22. That is the longer runway that's out here at Blue Grass Airport. But as we now know, the crew made the fatal decision, for reasons that have yet to be determined, and they took runway 26. That's the shorter runway.

Some of the possible factors that may have been involved in contributing to this crash, just last week the airport did change the taxi route for the commercial jets that come in and out of here. We are also told that the lights on the short runway were not operating properly. Perhaps that was a contributing factor. The NTSB investigators also outlined some of the other factors that they are considering as well.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DEBBIE HERSMAN, NTSB: The history of the crew and the amount of rest that they get traditionally a part of our investigation. We generally look back at least 72 hours, if not -- if not longer. We'll try to determine how much rest the crew had, how much they were working, and what they might have been doing in their off-duty time.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CARROLL: The NTSB is currently reviewing the tapes from the air traffic control tower, as well as the cockpit voice recorder. They also the flight data recorder. So they're armed with a lot of information that they still have to look through in order to try and determine exactly what happened here.

One of the things that they obviously want to do is to talk to the only survivor of the crash. As you know, Kyra, 50 people on board. The only person that survived was the first officer, Jim Polehenki. He is in critical condition, so investigators are still not able to talk to him, not just yet -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: And Jason, a pretty amazing story about that soul survivor, right? I believe it was one of the police officers or firefighters there at the scene that went in there and pulled him out of the wreckage while it was burning?

CARROLL: We're hearing that there were three people who actually helped pull this man out of the wreckage. Incredible. Incredible, first, that they were able to get to him given the nature of the fire that consumed the cabin, that consumed the aircraft. And also, that this man was able to survive. So, incredible that this man was able to survive, but, of course, the sadness that has overtaken this community here is that so many people perished in the fire.

PHILLIPS: Jason Carroll, appreciate it.

Well, John Mark Karr goes to court today in Colorado. A judge in Boulder will advise Karr of his rights in connection with the killing of JonBenet Ramsey. And we may or may not hear formal charges.

We probably won't hear much in the way of prosecution evidence. One of Karr's attorneys is former public defender Steve Jacobson (ph), a nationally known expert on DNA.

His father was the shah of Iran, the pre-revolutionary ruler and ally of the West. Now, more than 25 years after his family was ousted, Iran's former crown prince reflects on what his country has become.

We'll going to talk live Reza Pahlavi straight ahead on LIVE FROM.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(JOINED IN PROGRESS)

ANEESH RAMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: "You should know," he says, that no power can stop our nation from making progress. Based on this, our nation's decision and its way of scientific and technological development is a strong one."

The latest remarks came as Ahmadinejad applauded Iran's nuclear scientists for their work and came a day after the president, ahead of a U.N. deadline to stop Iran's nuclear program, announced the opposite, that he was expanding it, unveiling a new heavy-water production plant at the Iraq nuclear facility.

Then there are the country's ongoing war games. On Sunday, state-run TV showcased a submarine-fired missile. Overall, the message is a defiant one, but the rhetoric is not always consistent.

In fact, President Ahmadinejad sometimes offers more conciliatory words repeatedly these days, saying Iran is no threat to the world, nor even to the country he wants wiped off the map. "We are no threat," he said on Saturday, "to the Zionist regime, which is a definite enemy for the people of the region. The solution is elections. To solve the problem of Israel, we have said that a free election attended by all Palestinians must be held."

Iran knows its nuclear defiance could bring about U.N. sanctions, but officials here hope its calls for dialogue will keep the U.N. divided over what to do next. And as for reports the United States may embark on unilateral sanctions, that would come as little surprise. Recently, the country's head nuclear negotiator told CNN this entire nuclear dispute is fueled by the Bush administration's desire for regime change. It's a sentiment likely to resurface Tuesday, when Iran's president gives only his third news conference since taking office.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

RAMAN: And so, Kyra, a diplomatic standoff is set to ensue, it seems, next week. The question is between who. Whether it between Iran and the United Nations, or more directly the United States and Iran -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Aneesh Raman in Tehran.

Thank you so much.

Well, he was groomed to be king. Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi, son of the late Shah, was taught from childhood that he would one day rule Iran. But the 1979 resolution that ushered in Islamic rule forced his father off the throne and sent his family into exile.

Joining me now from Washington, former Iranian crown prince Reza Pahlavi.

Mr. Pahlavi, it's nice to have you with us.

REZA PAHLAVI, FMR. CROWN PRINCE OF IRAN: Hi, Kyra. Good to be here.

PHILLIPS: So, I'm curious, do you think dialogue is the way to go? Will it work, talks with Iran and the U.S., about these nuclear facilities?

PAHLAVI: Well, I think the world has demonstrated more than enough patience in exhausting the diplomatic course, which will be culminating soon as we approach the deadline set by the U.N. Security Council. As I was listening to this report, Mr. Ahmadinejad said something very interesting, that the world should no longer wait. What does that mean?

You know, the tactic is a race against time. This regime is trying to institutionalize itself in the region and spreading its tentacles as we speak to try to bully the world into appeasement. Therefore, the only answer here is to keep pressing on the regime for it to back off and meet the demands of the free world.

PHILLIPS: Do you really think this regime would use nuclear weapons against the United States? Or do you think this is going to just be years of talk and back and forth and threats?

PAHLAVI: Well, the simple reason that this regime is developing a nuclear weapon is to be able to have the final blackmail element in its hand and force the world to back off and, thereby, by itself, a longer lease on life. The free world cannot manage -- cannot afford to let that happen. And I'm also thinking in terms of the Iranian people.

Let's not forget, even though the nuclear threat is a serious one, rightfully so, but I'm very much concerned about the status of human rights in Iran and the lack of freedom that our countrymen have been forced to deal with ever since this regime has taken place. I think the best formula for Iranians and the world altogether is for this regime to come to an end.

We need to have a change of regime, we need to be able to bring peace, stability and an end to all these threats. As a result of an alternative, there will be a democratic one, where the people of Iran will be, once again, sovereign on their own destiny and do away with this fascist regime that is threatening the world and is repressing its people.

PHILLIPS: So what's the way -- how does that -- how would that happen? Is it the U.S. getting involved militarily? Is it the younger generation in Iran creating a revolution? How does that happen knowing what you know about politics and human rights issues in Iran?

PAHLAVI: Well, what I propose is basically a three-prong approach. We're talking about confrontation, pressure and support. Let me explain.

By confrontation, I mean, wherever the regime has its tentacles spread, whether it be in Lebanon or Afghanistan or Iraq, that needs to be contended would. Any kind of militancy that the regime is after has to be confronted.

Number two is pressure. You have to pressure the regime, and I think by that you can certainly focus on smart sanctions in the form that will go after the regime's economic, political and even personal interests without necessarily hurting the people of Iran.

And three, and most importantly, genuine support for the people of Iran themselves, because there are the best ally of the free world.

Now, the first one to demand an end to this situation, they need to be supported. They need to be in every form or shape encouraged. And I think this is where the world needs to invest, as opposed to wasting time on endless diplomacy that hasn't gotten us anywhere. If anything, the regime is closer now to a bomb than it was before, and certainly we're trying to avoid any kind of military confrontation.

PHILLIPS: But it -- but it seems like if talks are not working then the military option is the only option left.

PAHLAVI: Well, I disagree, because, first of all, the regime's weak point are the people of Iran themselves. For those who believe that behavior change is being sought, let me tell you what will change the regime's behavior immediately.

The regime is scared of only one thing, and that is the people of Iran, the people on the streets. When the world decides once and for all to back the people and support them in their fight for freedom, then we will see a totally different reaction...

PHILLIPS: So how do you do that?

PAHLAVI: ... not only by the people, by the regime. PHILLIPS: How do you do that, though? What do the -- and when you say the people, are you talking about the younger generation? Are you -- I mean, how do -- how do you stand up to a regime that many people say they're afraid of?

PAHLAVI: Well, people already have, and they're paying dearly for it. We have a number of political prisoners, dissidents, activists, labor union leaders who have been jailed by the regime and often submitted to the worst torture possible.

When the world decides to engage with them, support the democratic forces, support the dissidents, actually invest in giving them all the logistical needs that they have for communication, not only among themselves, but for the whole world, remember one thing, the cumulative weight of so many pockets of resistance in Iran will certainly outlast anything that the regime can throw at them.

And number two, there are elements within the regime. And that I can tell you because they talk to me as well. They're starting to think about what would happen if the regime changes and what kind of political survivability they will have beyond this regime. They really want to join with the rest of the people. Everybody is having a big question mark.

Is the world serious this time in helping the people? Are we still going to dilly-dally around the issue?

PHILLIPS: So give me more specifics on how the U.S. can actually rally the people and help the people. Instead of getting into a confrontation, say, with Khamenei or Ahmadinejad, how do you start?

How do you do that? How do you get in country? How do you talk to these people? How do you rally up that type of support, if indeed the Iranian people do want change like you say and want democracy?

PAHLAVI: Well, sometimes you can communicate directly with these pockets of resistance, sometimes you have to go through the channels that the Diaspora has outside in terms of coordination and talking to the right people within Iran itself.

Now, this is, of course, to be orchestrated and organized and managed properly. And on that there are numerous ideas and proposals that people like myself, who have been working all these years to put together the right package, could certainly share with anybody who is interested at this point to help us.

What we know is one thing. We have to win this fight, we have to get to freedom in Iran before this regime becomes nuclear. This is our race against time, and that's why we are expecting the world today to recognize that the cheapest, least costly, least consequential formula is not military intervention or other formulas, but it is to help the people themselves.

Let's not forget one thing. This regime knows how it came to power. And we're not talking about much difference. There will be an uprising of the people. What we're trying to steer away from is any kind of militancy. And we'll try to do it through civil disobedience and nonviolence.

But we definitely need much larger support at this point that the world has so far failed to demonstrate. If that is resolved, I think we will have a totally different scenario.

PHILLIPS: If your father would not have been thrown out of power, if you would have been able to take his place, how would the relationship between Iran and the U.S. be different right now? And, also, I mean, it was the U.S. that gave Iran its first nuclear reactor during the Cold War while your father was shah.

PAHLAVI: Well, first of all, the big difference is that, while this regime cannot be trusted, which is the reason why we have such an overwhelming reaction by the world community, the previous regime was at least a regime that you can depend on and trust. And Iran was not looking at exporting a revolution and fomenting radicalism or militancy. Not at all.

And therefore, Iran was a country that was developing the nuclear technology, as well. And, in fact, many Western nations who are today involved in the talks about sanctions under current regime were competing against each other as to who would sell us the technology at the best cost.

What has not changed is not the people, but the regime. And that's the whole difference.

Hopefully in the future, when we will once be free of this regime and have a truly responsible government in place, I think the world will look at us differently, the same way that if today we're not threatened by (INAUDIBLE) for instance. One should be afraid that the number one terrorist sponsoring regime in the world and is a terrorist nature itself is now getting closer and closer to acquiring the nuclear bomb. Here lies the contrast and the difference.

PHILLIPS: Former crown prince of Iran, Reza Pahlavi. You can also read his book, "Winds of Change."

It will be interesting to follow your efforts, Mr. Pahlavi, and see what kind of momentum you pick up as this continues to just remain a very hot topic internationally and here.

PAHLAVI: Thank you.

PHILLIPS: Appreciate your time.

PAHLAVI: Thank you, Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Well, a personal connection and political advice in Kenya. When LIVE FROM continues, U.S. senator Barack Obama visits his father's homeland and gives Kenyans a pep talk about holding their government accountable.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: A hero's welcome for a U.S. senator, but not in the state that sent him to Washington. Barack Obama is being hailed in his father's birthplace, Kenya.

CNN African Correspondent Jeff Koinange is in Kisumu, Kenya, with more on the triumphant return of a native grandson.

Boy, Jeff, he got to meet with relatives and gone -- went back to his father's village. What an amazing trip.

JEFF KOINANGE, CNN AFRICA CORRESPONDENT: Amazing, Kyra. In fact, the local media here have coined a phrase for Obama's Kenya tour. They are calling it Obamamania. Everywhere he goes, thousands show up, literally.

They're calling him the prodigal son, son who was born in the U.S., has come back home, despite the fact that Senator Obama was downplaying that. He kept saying, "I am a senator from the state of Illinois, I'm representing the U.S. government, but I'm here to build partnerships."

And everywhere, from when he went and took an HIV test, telling the people, "If a senator can come all the way from the U.S. to do this, you have no excuse."

And on this day, several hours ago, he -- another raucous welcome at the country's largest university, where he spoke out very openly against two subjects, he says, are slowing down Kenya's growth; namely ethnicity and corruption -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: And let's talk about that corruption. He took a strong stance. He got a tremendous response from the people. What kind of corruption did he talk about specifically, and are members of the government paying attention to him?

KOINANGE: Well, first off, there's been one scandal after another, Kyra. Billions and billions of dollars siphoned off into individuals' pockets. And the bottom line is, these individuals are still in the streets, left to run scot free. So Obama says, look, you have to be held accountable. If Kenya has to be held in the light -- you know, up against other African countries, it has to be held accountable. That's what it's all about.

And the people are listening. The bottom line is, if someone from the outside can come and speak out openly about such issues, such issues that plague this country, well, maybe people should start paying attention. Maybe the government should start paying attention. And hopefully, it will do just that -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: So, we hear that Obama is being asked whether he is going to run for the president of the United States. Is that a hot topic over there right now?

KOINANGE: I'll tell you what, he's avoiding that topic like the plague, Kyra. But I guess we're left to the one conclusion, stay tuned. But I tell you what, when we were out in the street with those thousands of thousands of people, they were saying, hey, if he doesn't want to run for the president of the U.S., he can always run here. Of course, there's some complications right there -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Well, he saw his grandmother, someone that he hasn't seen in 14 years. What was that like?

KOINANGE: Oh, what a moment. A poignant moment. Emotional. They embraced, they walked hand in hand. He introduced his children to their grandmother for the very first time. What a moment. And I tell you, it was so sweet, because none of them speak each other's native tongue, so they were communicating through an interpreter. But still, you didn't need any language, any written language or spoken language, to tell just how each was feeling. For those few moments, it was really, really a touching, touching moment -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Jeff Koinange, live from Kenya. Thanks so much, Jeff.

Now to Sudan and a cold shoulder for a senior U.S. envoy. It happened just ahead of a U.N. debate on peacekeepers in Darfur.

CNN's Richard Roth joins me from U.N. headquarters with more on what happened -- Richard.

RICHARD ROTH, CNN SR. U.N. CORRESPONDENT: Sudan has a bad nation for the United Nations for years and it's, once again, getting worse. And there's a lot of frustration regarding the Sudanese government's position. Jendayi Frazer, the top U.S. African affairs diplomat, sent to Sudan to meet with the president, with a strong message from President. She was, in effect, rebuffed. She tried to meet with him. Instead, she got a return message from the president's office saying, in an opposition to this plan, the U.S./U.N. drive to put U.N. peacekeepers on the ground there to replace African Union forces.

Frazer had left the United States saying it was time to act, but the world must get involved now, that thousands have died and many more are displaced or injured. Yet the president of Sudan says the U.N. should not be allowed on its soil.

Ambassador John Bolton, following consultations at the Security Council today.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOHN BOLTON, U.S. AMBASSADOR TO U.N.: Nobody expects the U.N. force to fight its way into Darfur, but at the same time, for us simply to withhold while the Darfur peace agreement itself becomes shakier and shakier, not least of which because of actions by the government of Sudan, risks the situation simply getting out of control.

So, it's -- I think we still have a lot of obstacles to overcome. But I think the determination that I'm trying to express is that we have undertaken many efforts to accommodate the concern of the government of Sudan, and those on the council who are speaking for it. And there comes a time, ultimately, when you just have to stand up and vote. And that's why we're looking at something at the end of this month.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROTH: China and Russia have their reasons for opposing this resolution. One of the reasons, because Sudan doesn't want the peacekeepers in. And other reasons, business connections, oil dealings. Sudan is, once again, another issue where the big five countries in the Security Council are locked in a dispute.

The U.N.'s humanitarian chief, Jan Egeland, though, says this is the worst Darfur has been since 2004. Half a million people this month did not get food there, he says. He's calling for the U.N. to be allowed entry there. So is Amnesty International, which had a researcher on the Chad/Sudan border a couple weeks ago.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

THEO MURPHY, AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL: The human rights situation hasn't improved, and in a lot of ways, actually it's become worse. The people in the displaced camps still suffer continual attacks. Women are being raped outside the camps. Even torture and killings. In the greater Darfur area, outside of these camps, attacks are also ongoing in south Darfur and north Darfur. One of the most recent attacks in north Darfur, 72 people were killed, all civilians. And this is after the peace agreement.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROTH: The Security Council is continuing discussions. The U.S. would still like to still put a resolution on the table, but Sudan is still blocking any entry for U.N. forces -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Richard Roth at the U.N. Thanks, Richard.

Predicting where a hurricane is headed can be like trying to predict lightning, but that doesn't mean some very smart people don't try. Among them, CNN meteorologist Jacqui Jeras and senior hurricane specialist Richard Knabb at the National Hurricane Center in Miami.

Jacqui, take it away.

JACQUI JERAS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Hey, Kyra. This really has been kind of a tricky storm, and we've seen some changes with it over the last 48 hours or so. And more changes, I'm sure, are on the way. In fact, it kind of looks like the east side of the storm is blossoming up a little bit.

Richard Knabb from the National Hurricane Center joining us now. Richard, what is Ernesto doing right now?

RICHARD KNABB, SENIOR HURRICANE SPECIALIST, NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER: Well, we think, based on high-resolution satellite imagery, that the center of the tropical storm is still inland over southeastern Cuba, roughly in this area right here. And most of the weather, the heavy thunderstorms, are off to east of the center right now. We have an aircraft reconnaissance plane that is flying along the northern coast of Cuba right now, monitoring the wind field to see if and when that circulation center pops off shore. Once that happens, we think the center will drive some energy from the water and give the system a chance to restrengthen.

JERAS: And how much strengthening are we talking about? Worse- case scenario, how strong could this get before it gets towards Florida?

KNABB: Well, we think it's going to have at least about a day over the waters north of Cuba and south of the Bahamas and Florida. We don't think it has much of a chance to become a major Category 3 hurricane, but we think there's a chance that it could become a Category 1 hurricane. That's why the hurricane watches are up for a good portion of the southeastern Florida coast and the Florida keys.

And we always tell people to prepare for the possibility of one category stronger. But Category 1 seems the most likely right now, and it's even possible it won't quite make it to hurricane strength before passing near or over southeast Florida. That's why it's just a hurricane watch right now, because of the possibility of hurricane conditions. But even tropical storm conditions can cause problems in southern Florida. We've got a lot of people with tarps on their roofs from last year.

JERAS: Yes, absolutely. And we learned from Wilma, too, what kind of damage just a Category 1 hurricane can cause, too. Talk to me about the impact of what this storm could do, compared to if this goes towards Key West or if it goes more towards Miami.

KNABB: Well, both of those are possibilities. We could see the center come into the Keys, could go over the peninsula of Florida or could even pass to the East. So what impacts you get at any one point particular on the map will highly depend on where that center goes and how strong the system is.

If the center crosses the Keys or the coast of Florida, there may be a storm surge, maybe four to five feet if it's a Category 1 hurricane. Tropical storm force winds or marginal Category 1 hurricane force winds can knock down powerlines and knock down trees and cause some damage to mobile homes and signs and things like that. And there's also potential for very heavy rainfall.

JERAS: Yes, talk to me about that rain threat?

KNABB: Well, right now, the real heavy rainfall threat is still down in southeastern Cuba, where they could get a foot of rain or more in some places, especially because of their mountainous terrain. Once the system gets away from Cuba and moves over Florida and the Bahamas, regardless of where the center goes, there's going to be a lot of rain in all those area. We could see a few inches of rain in many spots.

JERAS: OK, thanks very much. Richard Knabb from the National Hurricane Center, giving us some insight as to what Ernesto is doing and where it is going. And I just want to pull up real quickly the forecast track of this map and show you that cone of uncertainty of where it could be hitting and when it could be hitting. And also keep in mind down the line, if you live in Georgia, if live into the Carolinas, there's a possibility that this storm is going to be curving up towards the north and east and will be affecting those states later on down the line -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Jacqui, thanks so much.

Taking stock, loading up, getting out. A year after Hurricane Katrina, a look back at the day before the storm ravaged the Gulf Coast. That's ahead on LIVE FROM

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PHILLIPS: All right, we're getting more information now on that U.S. Airways flight that was diverted. It actually landed in Bristol, Tennessee. This is what I can tell you that we know so far. U.S. Airways flight 3441. It took off from Philadelphia. It was en route to Houston. About 10:10 a.m. this all took place. But the crew made the or made the -- decided to make an emergency landing in Bristol, Tennessee, because of concerns of a potential bomb threat.

Fifty-five, possibly 56 passengers we're hearing both numbers. The passengers are getting off that plane right now in Bristol. The FBI is interviewing each one of them. But that's what we can tell you to this point, that the crew got word of potential bomb threat and decided to land that plane. It was diverted and landed in Bristol, Tennessee. It was leaving Philadelphia, headed to Houston. Flight 3441, 55 or 56 passengers the FBI interviewing each one of them right now. We'll keep bringing you the details as we get it.

Meanwhile, failed takeoff, 49 people dead and a heroic effort to save one sole survivor. Why did a doomed Comair jet use the wrong runway? The latest in the crash probe coming up on LIVE FROM.

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PHILLIPS: Getting these pictures from our affiliate KABC in Los Angeles. Live pictures, actually, this is Santa Clarita. It's just north of Los Angeles, about a 45-minute drive north of the city. Hot and windy weather just making conditions extremely dangerous here. This is Placerita Canyon.

The initial estimate was that this wildfire was burning about five acres, but that was quickly outdated. It is much bigger than that we're told by firefighting officials. The fire was moving from light grasses into medium brush and then five fire engines were requested for structure protection in this area of Santa Clarita. That's just adjacent to the Angeles National Forest, if you're familiar with the area.

So a lot of trees, a lot of hills, a lot of brush. Live pictures coming into us from KABC. The conditions are pretty ripe for fires right now. The National Weather Service talking about strong, high pressure system combined with the off-shore flow produced these hot and dry conditions. And you're seeing now the effects of that. So we are following this wildfire that continues to grow in the Santa Clarita area, that's about 45 minutes outside of Los Angeles, northern part of Los Angeles County. We'll keep you updated. About 100 firefighters, we're told, battling this wildfire right now.

Well more than three million high speed Internet customers will soon be paying a little bit less each month. Susan Lisovicz live from the New York Stock Exchange with those details. Susan?

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PHILLIPS: All right Susan, thanks so much. Well how about an Emmy for worst taste? I'm not talking fashion disasters, although there are some to mention. I mean that show opener. Now Emmy producers are getting called on the red carpet. Details, straight ahead.

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PHILLIPS: A black eye, a red carpet. Brooke Anderson is in the L.A. covering the many colors of the 2006 Emmy Awards. Brooke what was up with that opening skit?

BROOKE ANDERSON, CNN ENTERTAINMENT CORRESPONDENT: It was a cringe-inducing moment at the beginning of the show Kyra. It was a plane crash spoof of the show "Lost" and it is getting a lot of attention online and elsewhere. I'm going to have more on that in just a moment, but first, let's take a look at the night's big winners.

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UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The Emmy goes to "24."

BROOKE ANDERSON, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): After five seasons on the air, "24" finally clocked in with the Emmy for best drama.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR: I just don't like being lied to..

UNIDENTIFIED ACTRESS: Derek?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's all right.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: But the honors didn't end there for the action series. Kiefer Sutherland won best actor in a drama for playing "24's" combustible Jack Bauer.

(on camera): OK, you've been nominated numerous times. It was finally your turn.

KIEFER SUTHERLAND, EMMY WINNER: It's humbling. It's humbling. And it's at that moment that you realize, wow, you are so, so lucky.

ANDERSON (voice-over): "24" earned a third Emmy on the night for directing.

(on camera): It was no ordinary day at the office for sitcom star Steve Carell and company. Their show took home the trophy for best comedy series as expected.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: "The Office."

ANDERSON (voice-over): The show's producer saluted the star of "The Office."

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm proud to call you my meal ticket.

ANDERSON: But in one of the night's surprises, it was not Carell who won best actor in a comedy, but Tony Shaloub of "Monk." It was his third Emmy win.

TONY SHALOUB, EMMY WINNER: There's been a terrible mistake.

ANDERSON: Another mild surprise came in the best actress in a drama race. Some expected a Kyra Sedgwick victory, but instead it went to Mariska Hargitay for "Law and Order: SVU."

MARISKA HARGITAY, EMMY WINNER: It's just overwhelming. I mean, I see it here, but it's hard to actually believe it. I feel like I'm borrowing somebody's.

ANDERSON: Julia Louis Dreyfuss, a previous winner for "Seinfeld," claimed the Emmy for best actress in a comedy for "The New Adventures of Old Christine."

JULIA LOUIS DREYFUSS, EMMY WINNER: What am I doing? What are you doing?

ANDERSON: The night's most emotional moments came in tributes to ailing TV legend Dick Clark who suffered a stroke in 2004.

DICK CLARK: Everybody should be so lucky to have their dreams come true.

ANDERSON: And the late producer Aaron Spelling was remembered by many of the people he turned into stars.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Thank you, Aaron.

ANDERSON: As for comedic moments, many came courtesy of host Conan O'Brien, who noted all of the movie stars coming to TV this fall.

CONAN O'BRIEN, EMMY AWARDS HOST: Alec Baldwin has a new show on NBC, James Woods has a new show on CBS, and Mel Gibson has a new show on Al-Jazeera.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ANDERSON: Now, there is some consternation over the questionable opening skit and its contents in light of the terrible news yesterday that a plane crash in Lexington, Kentucky, killed 49 people aboard. The opening skit featured O'Brien bouncing around inside a plane as they hit turbulence. Here is the skit right here.

Some are very upset, calling this an insensitive decision by NBC to air this skit. In fact, in Lexington, Kentucky, one local newscast finished wrapping up its coverage of the disaster and then right after that the Emmys were telecast. The president and general manager of that station WLEX said he was at home watching the telecast, was completely caught off guard, told the local newspaper that they were helpless and that they were horrified and called the move by NBC, quote, somewhere between ignorance and incompetence.

The Television Academy tells us they are not commenting on this, but NBC, about an hour ago, released this statement to CNN. Quote, our hearts and prayers go out to the many families who lost loved ones in the plane crash in Kentucky on Sunday and to the entire community that has suffered this terrible loss. In no way would we ever want to make light of this terrible tragedy. The film's opening during the Emmy telecast meant to spoof some of television's most well-known scenes. The timing was unfortunate and we regret any unintentional pain it may have caused.

We're going to have more on this on "SHOWBIZ TONIGHT." Did NBC do the wrong thing by showing an airplane crash spoof on the same day that dozens of people died in a real plane crash in Kentucky? It's TV's most provocative entertainment news program, "SHOWBIZ TONIGHT," 11:00 p.m. Eastern, 8:00 Pacific, CNN Headline Prime. Kyra, back to you.

PHILLIPS: All right Brooke, thanks so much.

Well it's carving a path across the Caribbean and Florida may be next. Will tropical storm Ernesto be a hurricane again? Stay with CNN, your hurricane headquarters.

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