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UPS Plan Crash; Egypt Erupts in Chaos; Freed Teen Speaks Online

Aired August 14, 2013 - 14:00   ET

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

BROOKE BALDWIN, CNN ANCHOR: Egypt erupts today. Peaceful protests turn deadly. Government bulldozers target two makeshift tents. And now leaders declare a month-long state of emergency.

I'm Brooke Baldwin. The news is now.

A fireball lights the sky. A cargo plane crash-lands on a street, two people are dead and investigators want to know what happened.

Kidnapped and coping with the loss of her mother and brother, Hannah Anderson logs on to social media, and she shares intimate details of her abduction and the biggest regret of the whole thing.

Plus, amazing video. Every cell door opens at once in this maximum security jail. Inmates seem to target one person. He jumps over the railing the try and get away.

And not a dry eye at this wedding. The bride, paralyzed from the waist down, fulfills a promise she made to herself years ago, to walk down the aisle on her wedding day.

Here we go. Top of the hour. I'm Brooke Baldwin.

And I want to begin with what has been a deadly day for people in Alabama. This UPS cargo plane crashes this morning in Birmingham. Look at this. Right now investigators are sifting through the scene. They are in there. They are collecting evidence from this crash that killed the pilot and co-pilot, the only two people on board.

A huge fireball lit up the skies, this is just before dawn. It was an Airbus A-300 that slammed into a street that runs parallel to the Birmingham Airport. Witnesses say they heard a large boom when the crash happened, and then more explosions followed after that. The flight had originated in Louisville, Kentucky. And David Mattingly is on the ground for us there in Birmingham.

And, David, just set the scene for me and tell me what you know at this hour.

DAVID MATTINGLY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Brooke, always the first two big questions in a crash like this, were there mechanical problems that anybody noticed, were there weather problems that anyone noticed? Officials here say that there was some precipitation in the area, but nothing at all serious that would bring down an aircraft like this. Also, residents living nearby, and in particular I spoke to a man who's with the civil air patrol and is a former airline mechanic. He was telling me that when the plane went over his house on the way to the airport, it sounded to him like there was some sort of backfire with the engine, followed by an engine roar, suggesting that the pilot might have been giving full power to those engines in those last moments before the plane went down.

We've also heard from other residents who talk about hearing something like sounds like an engine sputtering as the plane went over. But, fortunately, that plane did go down a half mile away from where those houses were. As it proceed closer to the airport, it landed several hundred yards outside the fencing of the actual airport here.

Now, what we're looking at this morning, the National Transportation Safety Board has investigators on the ground. They are no doubt going right for the cockpit voice recorder and the flight data recorder, looking at the wreckage. Those devices are designed to survive crashes like this, so they should be able to retrieve those and get information quickly. We're expecting to hear from them in a couple of hours what their preliminary findings and observations might be here.

But adding a little bit to the mystery is the mayor of Birmingham, William Bell, he told me earlier today that talking to FAA officials at the tower that the pilot never radioed the tower here to indicate he was in any sort of trouble. So, again, something adding to the mystery here and hoping to get more details as we hear from the investigators.

BALDWIN: So here you are, you're talking to eyewitnesses, you're hearing from the mayor. What about UPS, David? What's there reaction been?

MATTINGLY: UPS released a statement on the Internet this morning, that was around 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time today, and it was from the president of the UPS Airlines, Mitch Nichols. He said, "this incident is very unfortunate and our thoughts and prayers are with those involved." That was at 9:00 this morning. At the time they said they weren't able to confirm what had happened to their crew, even though officials here on the ground said that both of them had perished.

Now, at the moment, we're also waiting to find out what was on board that plane, what was on the plane as cargo that UPS was shipping down here to Birmingham. Possibly something that the investigators might also be interested in.

BALDWIN: As soon as you get more information on that, David Mattingly, we'll talk once again here on CNN. David, appreciate you there in Birmingham, Alabama.

Meantime, St. Joseph, Louisiana, here. One hostage is dead, another is in critical condition this afternoon after police ended this 12-hour standoff with a gunman at a bank. This gunman, identified as Fyaed Abdi Ahmed, was shot and killed by police as they stormed in, but not before he shot his two hostages, killing one of them. Here's what we're learning about this man. He was a paranoid schizophrenic, according to police, who was known to local law enforcement. They tell us he had no intention of robbing the bank, but during the standoff, Ahmed told hostage negotiators he heard voices and wanted a, quote, "device removed from his head."

And blood is flowing again on the streets of Cairo, Egypt, and the government backed by the military has imposed this state of emergency. The killing began after dawn today, just about 12 hours ago there in Egypt, as troops moved in to clear these two large encampments of mostly peaceful demonstrators. And at this hour, in Egypt, as the sun is setting, the camps have been dismantled, but fighting still rages on in Cairo. These are live pictures. Few, few people in the streets. Armored trucks. Three of them is what we're look at here. The latest death toll we have is 149 killed in Cairo.

I want you to watch this. This is CNN's Reza Sayah in the midst of the fighting this morning.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REZA SAYAH, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: You hear it behind us. That gunfire has rarely stopped in what has been an awful day here in Cairo. We have witnessed some awful scenes and there are neighborhoods in this city that are simply unrecognizable at this hour because they've been turned into war zones -- wow. That was -- that was --

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: You could hear the blast over Reza's shoulder. Arwa Damon is there for us, CNN's senior international correspondent, in Cairo.

And, Arwa, I should mention that at least one journalist is among those killed today. My first question to you is, one would think the government's goal here in acting clearly so forcefully is to go ahead, quash the uprising. But you reported just today, Arwa, this is just the beginning of a long and bloody battle. Why do you say that?

ARWA DAMON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: That's the sense that one gets, quite simply, because throughout the course of the day, even after they initially cleared very quickly the smaller of the two sit-in areas, we saw clashes growing and spreading and becoming more intense throughout the entire city. In fact, in other parts of the country as well.

And the security forces weren't just dealing with clearing demonstrators out of those two sit-in areas. They were also having to deal with pro-Morsy supporters who were trying to break through the ranks of the riot police who were also reinforced by the military. The military got called in eventually and very quickly as well.

And there were multiple front lines that were opening simultaneously in a lot of different areas. We also saw the pro-Morsy demonstrators actually currently take over another new sit-in area. It's a few miles away from the one that was at Cairo University. They have a field clinic set up there. We were down there earlier in the day. There was gunfire all around us. We actually, at one point, had to duck very quickly for cover.

And just there in that one area, medics were telling us that they dealt with around 800 injuries due to gunshot wounds. These pro-Morsy demonstrators, the supporters of the Muslim Brotherhood, for them this is very much an existential battle and they are determined to keep going out there, trying to find new and different ways to regroup. So, yes, right now it seems as if the government has cleared those two main sit-in areas, but that doesn't mean that these pro-Morsy demonstrators have gone home or are willing to give up.

BALDWIN: As you point out, Arwa, and just so everyone who's watching here in the U.S. is clear, we talk about these demonstrators, we talk about Morsy. These are backers of Mohamed Morsy. He is Egypt's first freely elected president. Led this Islamic religious government. And Egypt's military, they stacked (ph) him back on the 3rd of July. We saw those pictures live on CNN, of course. How did, Arwa, as we look at these live pictures, still clearly fires in the city streets, how did these protesters pose such a threat to the military that they resorted to the actions that you saw today?

DAMON: Well, the interim government has a number of reasons. They would say that the sit-ins were - and, in fact, they were incredibly disruptive for residents in the area. They were also blocking off significant thoroughfares in Cairo, causing massive traffic jams, more so than usual. The government was also accusing these demonstrators of having terrorists amongst their ranks, individuals who were armed, individuals who the government is accusing of carrying out acts of murder, torture and beatings.

And we did, in fact, speak to some men who said that they were captured by these demonstrators and beaten within an inch of their lives. And one also, though, needs the look back at what started all of this. And it was that massive, unprecedented numbers of people taking to the streets back on June 30th demanding that deposed President Mohamed Morsy stand down, demanding that the country hold early elections. And now we have the situation that the nation is dealing with. Very divisive and potentially still even more violent.

BALDWIN: Arwa Damon for us in Cairo. Thank you, Arwa.

Back here, kidnapping survivor Hannah Anderson is talking online about her agonizing ordeal days after that dramatic rescue in the wilderness in Idaho. She's talking about her captor. A man she refers to as Uncle Jim, who snatched her after cheerleading practice in southern California. For Hannah, when you read her messages, her answers here, freedom is clearly mixed with grief. She didn't know until after her rescue that her captor, James DiMaggio, had killed both her little brother and her mother. Sixteen-year-old Hannah answered hundreds of questions online. Casey Wian has that story.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CASEY WIAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Sixteen-year-old Hannah Anderson is sharing details about her kidnapping on social media. She fielded questions on the site ask.fm about her abduction by the man she knew as Uncle Jim, James DiMaggio. A user asked, "did you want to go with DiMaggio?" She replied, "no, not at all." "Why didn't you run?" "He would have killed me." "Why didn't you tell your parents he creped you out?" "In part, he was my dad's best friend and I didn't want to ruin anything between them."

Hannah shed new light on the night she was kidnap. The same night her mother and younger brother were murdered. Their bodies burned in DiMaggio's house. "How did he separate you from your mom and brother?" "He tied them up in the garage." "How did he keep the fire a secret?" "He had it set where it would catch on fire at a certain time."

Hannah also wrote DiMaggio threatened to kill her if she fled and brought her, at least in part, to help carry equipment in the wilderness. Some questions from subscribers were brutally blunt. "Did he rape you?" "I'm not allowed to talk about it, so don't ask questions about it. Thank you." "And you glad he's dead?" "Absolutely." Some experts question the wisdom of Hannah's online chats.

WENDY WALSH, PSYCHOTHERAPIST: This is a 16-year-old who's totally traumatized. She is in a state of trauma and so she's not thinking. Sometimes in a numb state, you're doing things that you don't really - really consider the consequences.

WIAN: Hannah even posted a selfie (ph) and engaged in lighter conversation, typical of a teenaged girl, but even some of that seemed painful. "What design did you get on your nails?" "Pink for my mom and blue for Ethan." Those who know her tell CNN, Hannah spent some of Tuesday helping to plan their funerals.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BALDWIN: Casey Wian reporting there.

And, you know, parts of Hannah's online post are emotional. They're tough to read. And she said she wished she could go back in time and risk her life to try to save her mother and brother. She actually wrote this, quote, "I will never forgive myself for not trying harder to save them."

I want to bring in psychotherapist Stacy Kaiser, live in Agoura Hills, California.

And, Stacy, when I saw this and I started reading these different, you know, responses from - questions over her kidnapping to possible rape to her finger polish, it kind of causes you to catch your breath. What did you make of all of it?

STACY KAISER, PSYCHOTHERAPIST: You know, I read the entire thing as well. She also talks about music that she likes to listen to, a boy that she likes. In a lot of ways she sounds like a normal teenager. Teenagers have this way of escaping into their computers and social media and I really think that she is trying to heal some of her trauma by doing that. And part of what I think is really important here that a lot of people don't understand is, there is a ton of research that says that when someone has been through a traumatic experience, it's really helpful to talk and share their stories and Hannah has found a really safe way to -

BALDWIN: It's cathartic sometimes.

KAISER: Yes. She has found a safe way to do it. She can monitor her answers. She doesn't have to look at people. They don't have to see her cry. I think she's actually quite brilliant for doing it this way.

BALDWIN: Let me ask you about this, what I just quoted. She said, quote, "I will never forgive myself for not trying harder to save them," her mom and brother. Describe the process of hopefully, eventually being able to forgive herself.

KAISER: Yes. Well, what's she's looking at these is survivor guilt. And part of this stage of grief is that whole bargaining thing when you're thinking about all the things you should have done and could have done. And I don't know how long it's going to take her to heal from that. She's going to need some counseling so she can begin to recognize that truly she was powerless at this. She was powerless so long, she talks about how she was afraid of dying herself. And so there was nothing she could have done and she's going to need to take that in at some point.

BALDWIN: Stacy Kaiser, thank you. We wish her well as she continues. At least she has her father here.

KAISER: Yes.

BALDWIN: Stacy, thank you.

She is the fiery reality star who's known for her outbursts, a table flip or two. You know who I'm talking about. But this New Jersey housewife will probably be on her best behavior today because in just about 15 minutes, Teresa Giudice and her husband will be in front of a federal judge facing fraud charges. More on this real life drama ahead.

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BALDWIN: Trapped -- OK. Which - which are we going to, guys? OK. I'm just going to go with Jesse Jackson, Sr., is apparently talking about his son, who's been sentenced. Take a listen.

OK. We're going to move on from that and talk about being trapped on board a burning submarine.

OK. Let let's talk about this. Former Congressman Jesse Jackson, Jr. --

REV. JESSE JACKSON, CIVIL RIGHTS ACTIVIST: (INAUDIBLE) my family. I speak really today as a father.

Most of my career has been spent outgoing, helping someone else on something on really understood socially or politically. But this one, of course, is home. Now I've had to raise many questions to myself about, did I confuse success with sickness? Jesse has been driven to succeed, to be effective. I remember we got the water tank built out in Fort Heights for the joy it was, arguing for the airport or something like that. But not realized we began to take these highs and lows. Bipolar was never a part of my lexicon, as a matter of fact, until he finally got to the Mayo.

And he did not even use that as an excuse for his behavior. He was remorseful. His record was a factor today in the sentencing and he is still recovering. Jesse has been very sick. This time a year ago I really thought we may have lost him. I think he's strong enough now to accept the challenges put before him by the judge. But this has been a very painful journey for our family.

We'll talk more about it days to come. But I think oftentimes (INAUDIBLE) we objectify political public figures and its - if he - if he were bleeding, you could get a bandage. If you break a leg, you get a splint. But if it's a mental, emotional, it's less discernible. And you have these highs and lows, unless you really take the time.

I would say lastly what occurred to me, one day Santita called and said, dad, you should go and see about Jesse. Well, I had just talked with him. And I said, he'll be all right. Whatever it is, I'll talk to him. And his mom went to see him, since she was in Washington, and they walked in the park and he began to cry. And she said, you (INAUDIBLE) see him quickly. And I did, along with Yousef (ph), flew down to Washington. And I said, let's go to the hospital right now. There was a surrender. There was no fight back. So I knew something was terribly different.

(INAUDIBLE) the hospital here for two days and then to -- then out in Arizona for more observation. And then the Mayo where they detected bipolar. And I think it became most graphic to me was when I called one day and said there was a great journey of - (INAUDIBLE) parade that you'd be here. They really miss you. He said, do they really miss me? I said, yes. Then he began to cry and said, they'll think I let them down. Just highs and lows.

This is a distressful condition. I hope you'll learn more about bipolar because I've met so many people since we've been on this journey on the airplane and downtown, my brother is bipolar, my father's bipolar. And I think what hit me in Arizona and in Minnesota, he's the only African-American person there, which means that many people who have it have no capacity to get diagnosis or to get treatment. But it's potential to affect behavior --

BALDWIN: OK. So you were listening to Reverend Jesse Jackson speaking moments ago, reacting to his son being sentenced to 30 months in prison for fraud.

Now you are looking at the secretary of state, John Kerry. He has popped in to the State Department daily briefing, talking specifically about this bloodshed that we've been witnessing on the streets of Cairo. Let's listen to what the secretary of state has to say.

JOHN KERRY, SECRETARY OF STATE: Today's events are deplorable and they run counter to Egyptian aspirations for peace, inclusion, and genuine democracy. Egyptians inside and outside of the government need to take a step back. They need to calm the situation and avoid further loss of life. We also strongly oppose a return to a state of emergency law and we call on the government to respect basic human rights, including freedom of peaceful assembly and due process under the law. And we believe that the state of emergency should end as soon as possible.

Violence is simply not a solution in Egypt or anywhere else. Violence will not create a road map for Egypt's future. Violence only impedes the transition to an inclusive civilian government. A government chosen in free and fair elections that governs democratically consistent with the goals of the Egyptian revolution. And violence and continued political polarization will only further tear the Egyptian economy apart and prevent it from growing, providing the jobs and the future that the people of Egypt want so badly.

The United States strongly supports the Egyptian people's hope for a prompt and sustainable transition to an inclusive, tolerant, civilian- led democracy. Deputy Secretary of State Burns, together with our EU colleagues, provided constructive ideas and left them on the table during our talks in Cairo last week. From my many phone calls with many Egyptians, I believe they know full well what a constructive process would look like. The interim government and the military, which together possess the preponderance of power in this confrontation, have a unique responsibility to prevent further violence and to offer constructive options for an inclusive, peaceful process across the political spectrum.

This includes amending the constitution, holding parliamentary and presidential elections, which the interim government itself has called for. All of the other parties, all of the opposition, all of civil society, all parties also share a responsibility to avoid violence and to participate in a productive path towards a political solution. There will not be a solution through further polarization. There can only be a political solution by bringing people together with a political solution.

So this is a pivotal moment for all Egyptians. The path towards violence leads only to greater instability, economic disaster and suffering. The only sustainable path for either side is one towards a political solution. I am convinced from my conversations today with a number of foreign ministers, including the foreign minister of Egypt, I am convinced that that path is, in fact, still open and it is possible, though it has been made much, much harder, much more complicated by the events of today. The promise of the 2011 revolution has simply never been fully realized and the final outcome of that revolution is not yet decided.

It will be shaped in the hours ahead, in the days ahead. It will be shaped by the decisions which all of Egypt's political leaders make now and in these days ahead. The world is closely watching Egypt and is deeply concerned about the events that we have witnessed today. The United States remains at the ready to work with all of the parties and with our partners and with others around the world in order to help achieve a peaceful, democratic way forward.

Now, Jen will be happy to answer any questions. Thanks.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Will there be any consequences -- BALDWIN: So you've been listening to the secretary of state, John Kerry, talking about this moment that we've been witnessing, the bloodshed in the streets of Cairo and now beyond Cairo in Egypt, the bloodshed as a result of these government bulldozers basically targeting these two different makeshift camps here in Cairo and spilling the blood of many. The last count we had is 149 Egyptians killed as a result.

Secretary Kerry very clear, because the Egyptian leadership there, the military, has imposed this martial law, this state of emergency, and he is saying that he strongly opposes that. That the U.S. supports an Egyptian -- a civilian-led democracy. The big news in all of this happening directly as a result of what we all witnessed end of June, beginning of July, with all those demonstrators very angry and frustrated over the then-President Mohamed Morsy, the Islamist fundamentalist who has now been ousted. So the bloodshed from these peaceful protesters who had been supporting Morsy. So they are now gone in the streets and this martial law has been imposed and Secretary Kerry not at all mincing words, speaking about the need for a civilian-led democracy and violence is not the answer.

Next, alarming video from inside a Miami area jail. Look at this. All at once you see every single door opens up, inmates, some of them don't try to escape. Instead, they try to attack another inmate. So now the question is, who hit the button to open all the doors. We're going to talk live to the reporter who broke this story in Miami to see what happened.

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