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Whiteout Conditions Shut Down Parts of I-35 in Iowa and Minnesota; Zelenskyy Says, Peace Plan Proposes U.S. Security Guarantees for 15 Years; Midair Helicopter Crash Kills One, Injures Another in New Jersey. Aired 7-7:30a ET

Aired December 29, 2025 - 07:00   ET

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

[07:00:00]

SARA SIDNER, CNN ANCHOR: This morning, dangerous weather sweeps across the nation, bringing blizzard conditions and tornadoes across the Midwest. Tens of millions of people now under winter weather alerts ahead of one of the busiest travel days of the holiday season. How it will impact your travel pay plan.

OMAR JIMENEZ, CNN ANCHOR: Plus, a lot of optimism, but no major breakthroughs to this point. President Trump and Ukrainian Leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy moving closer to a peace deal and we have new details on what's in the proposal, but a lot of roadblocks remain to end Russia's war.

And two helicopters collide midair leaving one person dead. You see some of the video there. Another person critically injured. We will tell you what we've learned about what caused the fatal crash.

I'm Omar Jimenez with Sara Sidner. John Berman and Kate Bolduan are out today. This is CNN News Central.

SIDNER: Travelers beware, there will be millions of you and many of you all are going to run right into severe weather that could delay or even cancel trips. This morning, more than 30 million people are under winter weather alerts from the Midwest to the northeast after storms brought blizzard conditions and spawned tornadoes in parts of the United States.

A mix of heavy snow and wind gusts up to 60 miles per hour caused whiteout conditions like you're seeing there in Iowa and Minnesota. In both states, long stretches of Interstate-35 are shut down. Further east, the storm also sparked tornadoes in parts of Illinois, where the intense winds ripped entire roofs off homes. You're looking at video of what happened there in that community in Decatur, Illinois. Families are having to wade through scattered debris from tree branches to shards of metal that were just jutted out everywhere from those heavy winds. One woman in Indiana captured the storm in real time when a transformer blew.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Oh, shoot, oh, yes. Oh, holy crap. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Did you get that?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SIDNER: Indeed what she said. Today, the storm is shifting further north and east.

CNN's Derek Van Dam is tracking it all for us. Holy crap is the right way to put it. That is terrifying and to see a tornado as well in the mix here with all this winter weather.

DEREK VAN DAM, CNN METEOROLOGIST: And to end off the year with a bang, right, Sara? This is a rough start to a busy week of travel. The whiteout conditions, highway closures, power outages, stretching from Iowa to Minnesota, and it is all because of a razor sharp cold front that is triggering strong winds and a rapid drop in our temperatures.

Look at the whiteout conditions here again in Hamilton County, Iowa. There were just numerous reports of car accidents and very difficult conditions to drive in from Minnesota into Iowa, especially across the plains where it doesn't take much for the wind to whip around the snow and reduce the visibility.

So, it's very clear what's going on here, kind of a mixed bag, everything but the kitchen sink. And that's a line that I took from my producer a few minutes ago. We've got sleet and freezing rain that's accumulated over a quarter inch across Upstate Vermont into New Hampshire, a sharp cold front dropping our temperatures further to the south, and a full-on blizzard taking place across the Upper Midwest.

But, first, I want to show you this because this is a remarkable graph. So, what you're looking at is the temperature departure from 24 hours ago. And this dark shade of purple here across Missouri into the Central Mississippi Valley, this is where we have temperatures that are 50 degrees colder than they were just yesterday. That's the razor sharp cold front that I talked about, and it is going to feel dramatically different as you step out the door this morning across the eastern half of the country.

Here's a look at the alerts. Millions of people with blizzard conditions across the up of Michigan into portions of Iowa and Minnesota. The snow is whipping across my home state, U.S. 31, Interstate-96. These areas considered will blow whiteout conditions because of the wind coming off of the lake and also just the intense lake-effect snow bands that will certainly set up downwind from Lake Erie and Lake Ontario.

[07:05:06]

Here's a look at the freezing rain. This is going to cause treacherous conditions, I-96 though -- or the I-95 corridor, rather, will be all rain. But heads up, this wind will be very, very vicious. That means it'll be difficult to drive larger vehicles today too. So, keep that in mind.

SIDNER: A 50-degree drop is insane in the membrane, to quote a very popular -- the crew is now dancing.

VAN DAM: That's bringing me back.

SIDNER: Thank you so much for that line. Derek Van Dam, well, I mean you used your producers. I'm using, you know, famous rappers, whatever. I mean, we're all good. Thank you so much, Derek.

VAN DAM: I like it.

SIDNER: We'll, we will check back in with you soon. Omar?

JIMENEZ: Yes, miss me with that drop. Breaking overnight, yes, no, thank you, but, look, we're also tracking a number of stories, including breaking overnight Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy sharing new details on the latest proposed peace plan with Russia.

Now, this is a day after his high stakes meeting with President Trump in Florida, and Zelenskyy telling reporters this morning the plan now proposes that the U.S. guarantees Ukraine security for 15 years. So, how will Moscow react?

We're standing by for President Trump to speak with Russian President Vladimir Putin as soon as today about ending the nearly four-year war. President Trump yesterday striking a hopeful tone.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP, U.S. PRESIDENT: We're very -- we could be very close. There are one or two very thorny issues, very tough issues, but I think we're doing very well. We've made a lot of progress today, but, really, we've made it over the last month. This is not a one day process deal. You know, this very complicated stuff.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

JIMENEZ: CNN's Clare Sebastian is tracking all of this for us. So, Clare, I mean, we've seen President Trump and Zelenskyy obviously side by side, touting potential progress and in some cases optimism. But where do we stand right now? What is the latest here?

CLARE SEBASTIAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes. So, I think, look, behind those warm words and positive noises, it's clear there is still a lot of work to be done, Omar, that 90 percent or 95 percent done numbers that we hear from the Ukrainian president mainly. I mean, I think it's semantic because the 5 or 10 percent that are left are the biggest issues, the issues mainly of territory and then the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, Europe's biggest power plant that Russia forcibly seized at the beginning of the war and has occupied ever since. That's another of the major sticking points. So I think that is where we stand right now.

In terms of next steps, we had just in the last hour or so from the Kremlin spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, says that the call -- the next follow-up call after the Zelenskyy meeting with Trump another call between Trump and Putin will happen very soon, he said. So, we are waiting to hear about that. And President Zelenskyy this morning speaking to journalists has also said that he hopes for a number of next steps, including more meetings next week at adviser level, progressing then to talks with the European leaders under the Coalition of the Willing and then talks in Washington, he hopes, with those European leaders and President Trump. And then he says at that point he will be ready to speak to Russia in any format they choose. But, of course, we have no sense from Russia that they are ready for that or that they are changing their position in any way.

So, I think, you know, again, despite those warm words and positivity, that conciliatory view that we got of those talks in that press conference, there were some issues for Ukraine, President Trump saying, you know, things are not going well on the battlefield and paraphrasing. So, maybe it's worth them making a deal. That really echoes a line that we've been hearing from the Kremlin.

He also seemed to praise President Putin for what he's doing with the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, saying that it's a big step that he's not bombing it, at which point you did see President Zelenskyy shift uncomfortably from one foot to the other.

So, look, clearly, there's a lot more work to be done. Clearly, the biggest issues still remain. And we have an impasse of sorts because, look, Ukraine is moving towards, it says, the idea of discussions on territory. But in order to change the status or give up any territory, President Zelenskyy seems to suggest that they would need a referendum. And for that they need a ceasefire. And Moscow has openly rejected any idea of a ceasefire. So, that's where we stand at this point.

JIMENEZ: Yes, at least 60 days and that threshold, I mean, you can't even get to one put in place to begin with. So, obviously, it would be a significant step.

Clare Sebastian, I appreciate the reporting. Sara?

SIDNER: All right, thank you, Omar.

Dramatic video capturing the moments of a fatal crash involving two helicopters. What we're learning this morning about the investigation.

And breaking overnight, federal prosecutors say the suspect in the D.C pipe bombing case has confessed his alleged motive for targeting both political parties on the eve of January 6th.

And an incredible video, a skier is flying down the snowy peaks of a volcano when it erupts. That story and more ahead.

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[07:10:00]

JIMENEZ: This morning, investigators in New Jersey are trying to determine the cause of a deadly midair collision between two helicopters Sunday. The crash killed one of the pilots and injured the other. Now video shows the moment one of the helicopters, you can see that they're spiraling down out of control. The FAA said only the pilots of both helicopters were on board. The helicopters came down in an open field, and the pilots were airlifted to a nearby hospital.

I want to bring in CNN's Rafael Romo who joins us now with more on this. So, Rafael, just what have you learned to this point?

RAFAEL ROMO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Omar, good morning. The helicopters came down in a field in Hamilton, New Jersey, and both pilots were airlifted to the trauma center. This is according to Hamilton Fire Department Chief Sean Makeri (ph), who confirmed to CNN that one person died while the condition of the other one was unconfirmed.

Hamilton, Omar, is located in Atlantic County, is about 35 miles southeast of Philadelphia and sits near the New Jersey Pine Barrens, a vast area forested wilderness. According to the Federal Aviation Administration, the crash happened around 11:25 in the morning Eastern Time.

[07:15:01]

The FAA said in a statement that the two helicopters collided in midair near Hamilton Municipal Airport in New Jersey.

CNN has obtained a video showing the moment one of the helicopters went down, spinning out of control. Officials also say that only the pilots were on board each helicopter. Both the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board will investigate the accident, but the NTSB will be in charge.

Fire Chief Makeri described the crash scene as, quote, a pile of mangled metal that was on fire. That's all it looked like, he said. It was hard to even tell it was a helicopter. A restaurant owner at the Hamilton Municipal Airport says he had just seen both pilots at his establishment prior to the crash.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SAL SILIPINO, APRON CAFE OWNER: They were just at our cafe having breakfast. They're regulars. They come in every week or every other week.

I don't know them personally, just that they seem to come in all the time together. They flying together and they seem to be close. You know, they sit together and they seem to be good friends or relatives.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROMO: And, Omar, and I later post on Facebook by the Hamilton Fire Department officials said that there are A.I.-generated images and photos and videos from prior incidents circulating on social media that are being falsely depicted as coming from this incident. These images and videos are not from the scene. The fire department also asked people to think before sharing content, calling what happened a tragic incident and an ongoing investigation. Omar? JIMENEZ: Yes, tragic indeed. Rafael Romo, I appreciate the reporting. Sara?

SIDNER: All right. This morning, authorities in San Antonio area are warning that a 19-year-old woman who vanished on Christmas Eve could be in imminent danger, according to a social media post by the Bexar County Sheriff's Office. Camila Mendoza Olmos was last seen on surveillance video outside her home about seven in the morning on the morning of Christmas Eve.

Authorities say that the 19-year-old was seen searching through her car before walking away with only her keys and possibly her driver's license. They say she left her phone behind. Her mother told authorities she thought Camilla left for a walk and reported her missing hours later. Since then, multiple searches have been conducted. The sheriff's office says Camilla was last seen wearing a hoodie and pajama pants. Coming up at 9:00, we'll talk with the Bexar County sheriff, Javier Salazar, about the latest on that search.

Now, more than a dozen people have died and hundreds more injured after a passenger train went off the tracks. What we're learning this morning about what caused this to happen.

And, oh say can you see, the crowd erupting at this iconic moment as a 104-year-old vet performs the national anthem on his saxophone.

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[07:20:00]

SIDNER: The 49ers and the Bears played their hearts out last night, trading big plays from start to finish. But in the end, it was one of those games where the offense saved the day.

CNN's Coy Wire here now. Coy, who are you going to upset today, Niners fans or Bears fans? Oh, wait, they're already upset.

COY WIRE, CNN SPORTS ANCHOR: Yes, hopefully you because you're a Rams fan and my Falcons play you guys tonight on Monday Night Football, but that's another story.

SIDNER: Rude.

WIRE: Let's start with these Bears and 49ers with a chance for the NFC's top overall season still on the line. Loser cannot get it. The Bears lead the league in takeaways and they intercept Brock Purdy's first pass of the game and take it for a touchdown. They've been unbearable for opponents lately. That's a pretty bad way to start the day.

Purdy did get his groove back. Look at this, making people miss tossing one of his three touchdown passes, Sara, three out of three yards on the day and the Dougie, or should we call us the Purdy, I love it.

Final seconds, the Bears' Caleb Williams leading the league with sixth fourth quarter comebacks coming in but does not make magic this time. 49ers win 42-38. They face Seattle next week. Winner gets the number one seed in the NFC.

The Bills looking to tie the game, which is seconds to go against the Eagles a dose of their own medicine. Josh Allen tush-push makes it 13- 12. But they decide to go for two and the win. Allen misses.

So, Philly wins 13-12. That means the Patriots, who grounded the Jets 42-10 will win the AFC East. Incredible season for Pats' first year Head Coach Mike Vravel, Bills and Eagles are both playoff bound.

Aaron Rodgers giving Pittsburgh a chance, Steelers down with a minute to play against the Browns, he hits Pat Freiermuth. But on fourth down, Rodgers tries Denzel Ward, one of the best corners in the league, three straight plays, it's not happening. The warden warding off the comeback attempt. Browns upset them. And with the 13-6 loss, Pittsburgh now faces AFC North rivals Baltimore in a winner takes the division game in the season finale.

Finally, Sara, listen to this.

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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Ladies and gentlemen, Staff Sergeant Dominick Critelli.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WIRE: My goodness, wonderful moment from the NHL Islanders game in New York, national anthem played by World War II veteran Dominick Critelli, he is 104 years old.

[07:25:03]

Born in 1921, he operated behind enemy lines in Europe and survived the Battle of the Bulge. His saxophone rendition of the anthem, spectacular, his ability to hold those notes at the end, Sara, utterly captivating, inspiring stuff.

SIDNER: That is so cool that I don't even want to fight with you over the game. I just want to be like, yes, Dominick Critelli, you are the man.

WIRE: Yes.

SIDNER: So sweet.

WIRE: Our spirit animal this morning, getting us going, awesome salute. His Islanders didn't win the game, but he wins the day, highlight of the day.

SIDNER: 100 percent. Coy Wire, thank you so much. I do appreciate you. I hope you have a good New Year's. I'm not sure I'm going to see you on New Year's. That's upsetting. But hopefully our teams, you know, the Rams come out on top. I'll leave it there. WIRE: Maybe I'll see you tomorrow morning. We'll talk about that. Bye, later.

SIDNER: Okay. That's right. You know it.

Ahead for us, brand new this morning, authorities may have a confession and motive from the man accused of placing two pipe bombs in D.C. New details on what he allegedly told investigators.

And an incredible blockbuster weekend for the newest installment of the Avatar series, just how much fire and Ash raked in over this holiday weekend.

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