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Spirit Airlines Cancels All Flights, Shuts Down Operations; Report: Iran Submits 14-Point Peace Proposal to U.S.; Trump: Could Pull More Than 5,000 U.S. Troops from Germany; Demining Ukraine; Talks to Reschedule Correspondents' Dinner; Testing Drones to Stop School Shootings; Signs of Trouble for Russian Economy. Aired 4-5a ET

Aired May 03, 2026 - 04:00   ET

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

[04:00:00]

KIM BRUNHUBER, CNN ANCHOR: Hello and welcome to all of you watching us. Here in the United States, Canada, and around the world, I'm Kim Brunhuber. This is CNN Newsroom.

Spirit shuts down and millions of U.S. travelers who use the budget airline have been left in limbo, will have the latest fallout. President Trump says he'll review a new Iranian peace plan as Tehran looks to tighten its grip on the Strait of Hormuz. We'll have a live report from the Gulf. Plus, details on the possible rescheduling of the White House Correspondents' Dinner following the attack that postponed the annual event.

ANNOUNCER: Live from Atlanta, this is CNN Newsroom with Kim Brunhuber.

BRUNHUBER: A day of disruption for air travelers across the U.S. after Spirit Airlines' abrupt closure just over 24 hours ago. Employees are now out of work, and thousands of stranded ticket holders are scrambling to make new arrangements. Spirit says refunds are being issued, and other airlines say they're offering so-called rescue fares. But customers who spoke with CNN described a confusing and unclear process.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We came here to the airport to try to get another ticket. American Airlines is like $1,300. And then I hear from Frontier that they're only helping customers until June 6th. Well, my flight is all the way until the 18th. I haven't even received my money back to even buy a new ticket. So, that means I've got to come out of pocket with more money to purchase another ticket.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I just got here, and the people that were standing here just said, it's -- there's no flights, Spirit went out of business.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I saw the notices, didn't really think about it, walked right by them. And I went to the kiosk, and I typed in my information, and they're like, oh, yes, your flight has been canceled. Find an agent. So, I was looking for an agent. They were like, there's no agent. There's no customer service.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BRUNHUBER: CNN's Rafael Romo has more from Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport here in Atlanta.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

RAFAEL ROMO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Passengers' attitudes about what's happening with the shuttering of Spirit Airlines can be described with one word, confusion. When we got to the Spirit Airlines ticket counter earlier, the area was cordoned off. Signs that normally direct passenger traffic were set up as barriers and screens had a message for passengers saying the following, and here I quote, "We regret to inform you that Spirit Airlines has ceased global operations. All Spirit flights have been canceled, and customer service is no longer available. It has been our honor to bring friends and families closer together for 34 years."

This decision will put 17,000 workers out of a job, including 14,000 Spirit employees and thousands of contractors and other people whose jobs depend on Spirit and its operations at multiple airports around the country. Spirit Airlines' demise has stranded thousands of passengers who have to adjust plans and perhaps millions who have tickets for future dates. Customers have been instructed not to come to the airport.

Also, those who book directly through the airline with a credit or debit card will be issued refunds and have been instructed to rebook travel on other carriers, including JetBlue, Southwest, Delta, and United Airlines, all of which have announced they are offering lower- cost rescue fares so that Spirit customers can rebook flights.

On Saturday, U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said some last- minute efforts intended to save the airline were ultimately unsuccessful.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEAN DUFFY, U.S. TRANSPORTATION SECRETARY: The president was like a dog on a bone trying to figure out a way to keep Spirit afloat. He was concerned about the employees of Spirit. I was in the Oval many times hearing him talk about the employees and the customers.

In the end, this was a creditor issue. Again, they have the final say of whether they want to do a deal with the government. But also, from the government's perspective, we oftentimes don't have a half a billion dollars laying around in a spare account that we can put into a bailout of an airline.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROMO: And let's remember that Spirit filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in November 2024 but then emerged from it in March of the following year, 2025, only to file again five months later in February. The airline was able to reach a deal with its creditors to move forward, but then fuel prices surged and ultimately contributed to its demise.

[04:05:00]

Spirit is the first significant U.S. airline in nearly 25 years to go out of business because of financial problems.

Rafael Romo, CNN, Atlanta.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BRUNHUBER: Major carriers are creating hiring pipelines for out-of- work Spirit employees, including dedicated job portals at American and United. They're also extending travel privileges to their unemployed colleagues. A social media user on one of Spirit's final flights captured a crew member's emotional message. Listen to this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: So, we've been in the air since 1983. What is that? 43 years. And unfortunately, that's over. So, thank you for your support over the years. And onward and upward, right?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BRUNHUBER: Earlier, CNN spoke with Spirit pilot Brandon Keene, who gave his perspective on whether the airline's closure could have been avoided. Here he is.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BRANDON KEENE, SPIRIT AIRLINES PILOT: I don't want to get too political, but I mean, yes, it could have been avoided. Anything in life can be avoided, you know, when you take the right precautionary steps. Sure, COVID had a big, big hit on the airline. But we also, as far as where Spirit would be today, if we're going back to the blocked merger attempt with JetBlue, Spirit, the name may not be there, but we would all have jobs. 17,000 of us or however many it ended up being.

I know there's a lot of contractors in there too, but all of those people, including myself, would have a job with that. That merger wasn't blocked, so you can't help but speculate and wonder.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BRUNHUBER: All right. for more perspective on this, I want to turn to aviation analyst Alex Macheras, who joins us from Madrid, Spain. Thanks so much for being here with us. So, we heard it there in that report, still lots of confusion, passengers scrambling to rebook, other airlines have come in with these capped fares. I mean, how well is all of this actually working for the people who've been left stranded?

ALEX MACHERAS, AVIATION SPECIALIST: Well, for those that booked ultimately via normal means, so credit cards, debit cards and so on, they have better protection in place to obtain refunds. The picture gets a little patchier with those that were flying on travel credits or vouchers and so on.

But ultimately, I think the initial period and that disruption that passengers will face over the last few days and the coming few days will only last over the next few days. And then it turns to what the true impact is going to be on the U.S. consumer and the U.S. consumer in the air travel market. Because with the collapse of Spirit, what we're seeing is the removal of around 2 percent of all domestic flights from the U.S. air travel system. And that's going to push fares up. That's a given.

BRUNHUBER: Yes, absolutely. And I want to ask you a bit more about that. But just before we do that, I want to go back to sort of the people who have been impacted by this. That's the employees as well, the workers. I mean, they have these airlines are offering some job portals, fast track interviews and so on. I mean, how far do you think that will go to ease the pain for those employees?

MACHERAS: Well, look, this certainly helps. And actually, the aviation sector globally is really well known for the competitor airlines kind of jumping in and saying, let us make this easier for you, not least because most airlines really need those trained, skilled professionals that the aviation sector is so famous for. It takes a lot of time and investment to bring someone in from outside aviation and put them into highly specialized, highly complex roles right across the air travel ecosystem.

What we have here is we have a big pool of talent now that will be available to those airlines. And so, it's really sensible that airlines leverage that, but also step in and hopefully do the right thing for these skilled professionals that for no fault of their own are caught up in a situation of the first major U.S. airline collapse for decades.

BRUNHUBER: Yes. And this isn't, you know, a philanthropic endeavor on their part. As you say, you know, it's a huge opportunity for those carriers to snap up talent and as well other routes for themselves. We heard from that pilot there who said they'd still have jobs if that JetBlue merger hadn't been blocked. What's your analysis? Was he right?

MACHERAS: There is an element of truth to that, of course. And that's where, of course, the conversation kind of moves a little more political rather than a simple aviation acquisition. For consumers and for the public, the competition is good. We need airlines to be able to compete on fares to keep air travel affordable and keep it an enabling factor in terms of pricing.

What happens when you have giant airline groups or other airlines start merging and acquiring other airlines is that competition fades away. And that's what we've seen across in Europe, for example, where you may be flying on the national airline of Germany or Austria or Switzerland or Italy. And actually, you are flying the same airline group.

[04:10:00] And so, if you're looking for competition and for competitive market pricing on those routes, you won't find it because consolidation has occurred there. So, on one side, that's what blocking this kind of deals can protect. But does that mean that was the case for Spirit and JetBlue? Probably not. Spirit needed a buyer. It's been racking up heavy, heavy losses, over US$5 billion worth of losses since 2020.

And so, there are many in the industry that believe that that perhaps warranted a little more scrutiny in terms of was this a political move, or actually, would this have benefited the industry, the employees, the sector, and then finally, of course, the consumers? So, it's a worthwhile conversation.

BRUNHUBER: Yes. OK. Well, let's talk about the sector then. In the industry, I mean, here in the U.S., Spirit basically pioneered that no-frills fare. You know, for passengers, I mean, for people who didn't necessarily have a lot of money, it's a huge loss, as you say, because fares will probably go up here. But for the industry itself, I mean, does it suggest that that model, that no-frills fare is still viable in the U.S.? And then, of course, other budget airlines around the world, Ryanair, for instance, AirAsia will be looking at this as well.

MACHERAS: Yes. So, what we're looking at with Spirit is quite a question mark over the ultra-low-cost carrier model in the modern age in 2026. And I quote 2026 because with everything going on globally, you have to keep in mind that aviation is inherently exposed to everything. It is exposed to airspace restrictions, weather en route, but also the market performance. Even a tweet now has the ability or a post with the president has the ability to determine and shape that next week or the near future of an airline.

And so, with that, you really expose the vulnerability of an ultra- low-cost carrier with almost no buffer or margin for, for example, a high rising fuel price. And that's what we've seen with the jet fuel price since, of course, the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, since the U.S. and Israel war on Iran.

And airlines like Spirit and others are simply not built in that business model to be able to absorb a jet fuel price that is doubling and trebling and so on, because that margin is already razor thin. What happens when you then bring a sky high first in decades high jet fuel price to that business model? It very quickly collapses. It's not sustainable.

And so, the industry is watching this carefully because there are many that are teetering on the edge of financial difficulty because of that jet fuel price. Of course, with the added complexity of the fact that there is also a shortage in so many markets globally.

BRUNHUBER: A warring sign for other carriers. And, Alex Macheras, thank you so much for speaking with us. Appreciate it.

MACHERAS: Thank you.

BRUNHUBER: The makers of the abortion pill Mifepristone filed an emergency appeal with the Supreme Court on Saturday, asking that the drug remain available through the mail. Now, it comes a day after a federal appeals court temporarily reinstated a nationwide requirement that the medication be obtained in person. Attorneys for the maker of Mifepristone urged the court to issue a stay, saying the lower court ruling injects confusion about what's allowed. Women have been able to obtain Mifepristone through telehealth appointments rather than in person since the COVID-19 pandemic.

The ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran remains in effect, as President Donald Trump says he's reviewing a new proposal from Iran to end the war. But he appeared unimpressed, saying, quote, "I can't imagine that it would be acceptable."

Iran's state affiliated news agency reports the 14-point proposal was sent through a Pakistani intermediary. And while details are few, the plan calls for permanently ending the war on all fronts, including in Lebanon. It also includes withdrawal of U.S. military forces from the region.

Meanwhile, Tehran is poised to approve a law that would place restrictions on which vessels can pass through the Strait of Hormuz. Under the law, ships from hostile countries will be required to pay reparations to obtain a permit for passage.

CNN's Paula Hancocks joins us live from Abu Dhabi with the latest. So, Paula, take us through what we know about this latest proposal and President Trump's reaction.

PAULA HANCOCKS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Kim, we know that there has been intense diplomacy behind the scenes through the mediators, Pakistan to try and keep updating the proposal, changing the proposal to something that is palatable to both sides.

Now, this one, according to Tasneem, which is state affiliated mediator, it is a 14-point plan. Tasneem claims it's in response to a U.S. proposal. Now, they are saying that the U.S. was suggesting two months for this deal to be done, for the ceasefire to be extended. And suggesting that Iran would rather have that as 30 days and then make sure that the deal is in place at the end there.

[04:15:00]

There are elements of this that we are hearing through state media that wouldn't be acceptable to the U.S., for example, pulling all U.S. troops out of the region. That's something that's not being agreed to. Considered as far as we know, and we're also hearing from the U.S. President that he can't imagine, he said, that it would be acceptable in its current form, this proposal, but he will look at it. Let's listen to more of what he said.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP, U.S. PRESIDENT: Doing very well with regard to Iran. Again, they want to make a deal. They're decimated. They're having a hard time figuring out who their leader is. They don't know who their leader is because their leader is gone. Their leader that -- their former leader, Khamenei. But we'll see.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HANCOCKS: Now, of course, public statements don't always reflect what is happening behind the scenes. One thing we do know is a massive sticking point, though, is of course that Strait of Hormuz, the critical waterway that is effectively closed at this point with the U.S. naval blockade, with Iran preventing certain ships from being allowed to come through.

Now, we hear from Press TV, another state media, that Iran's parliament is poised to pass a law which would dictate who exactly is able to use the Strait of Hormuz. It would, according to Press TV, not allow any Israeli vessels to pass through. When it comes to what it calls hostile countries, presumably the United States and others, they would have to pay war reparations in order to get a permit to be able to travel through. And even countries considered friendly to Iran, as far as Tehran is concerned, would need to have coordination with Tehran.

Now, this is highly unlikely to be accepted by the U.S., by Israel, even by the Gulf nations, which rely heavily on that waterway to be able to transport their oil and energy to the rest of the world. But, as I say, there is a lot of posturing. There are maximalist demands being said publicly. It is what is happening behind the scenes that is more important.

But, of course, there is this concern, overshadowing the whole process, that there could be a return to the violence and the war that we have seen. We know from the State Department in the U.S. that they have fast-tracked billions of dollars in arms sales to a number of countries, the Gulf nations that they are allied with and Israel. We understand that these sales are worth some $8 billion.

It would include air defense systems for Kuwait and Qatar. We have seen reports that Qatar is very low, as well, on Patriot missiles. Given what has happened over the last couple of months, they need their stocks replenished. And, also, there would be laser-guided rockets for Qatar, for the UAE, and for Israel. So, even at the same time as we are seeing these diplomatic efforts ongoing, we're also seeing the preparations for a potential return to violence. Kim.

BRUNHUBER: All right. Thank you so much for walking us through all of that. Paula Hancocks in Abu Dhabi. President Trump says 5,000 U.S. troops being withdrawn from Germany, that the Pentagon announced, is only the first step on Saturday. He said he plans to cut a lot further than the number announced the day before. Republican congressional leaders are already pushing back against the move.

And so, are residents of a German town near the Rammstein Air Base, which is the headquarters for the U.S. Air Forces in Europe. They say their economy will take a major hit.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MURAT KAPLAN, LANDSTUHL RESIDENT (through translator): In any case, it would hit hard because this area is very dependent on financial aid. And I think it would cause a great deal of damage.

MARIA RAFTOPOULO, LANDSTUHL RESIDENT (through translator): Americans weren't just part of society. Some of them really did live among us quite normally. Not all of them were isolated, but they provided jobs, they rented houses and flats. I know from my family that this has also enabled many people to pay off their mortgages through granny flats and other flats. And even though there are fewer Americans now, they still provide jobs, they still rent, they contribute to the region doing as well as it does.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BRUNHUBER: The U.S. decision came just days after German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said the U.S. was being humiliated by Iran. Germany now says the U.S. move was anticipated and it shows that Europe has to do more for its own security.

Four years of a brutal war have left Ukraine with a distinction no one wants, the most heavily mined place on Earth. Still ahead, we'll look at what it takes to clear the landmines that litter huge parts of the country.

[04:20:00]

And a Texas-based startup is looking to stop school shootings by using drone technology. We'll have more on those stories coming up. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BRUNHUBER: Russia is threatening to open a crack in Ukraine's key defense line in the east. Ukraine's army chief is telling Reuters that Russian troops are trying to gain a foothold in the outskirts of Kostiantynivka. The city is part of Ukraine's so-called fortress belt, whose loss would leave the rest of eastern Ukraine wide open. Ukrainian open-source maps show Russian troops about one kilometer, or six tenths of a mile, from the city's southern outskirts. While small chunks of the city are marked as gray zones, meaning that neither side fully controls them.

Well, as Russian drones pose a daily threat from the skies, a hidden danger lurks underground in large parts of Ukraine. As Isabel Rosales reports, clearing them is neither easy nor safe.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ISABEL ROSALES, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Step by step, sweep by sweep. The slow and painstaking rhythm of mine clearance in Ukraine. Some 25 miles or 40 kilometers outside Kyiv, this team is working to make sure the fields and forests are safe from mines and other potential dangers. It's slow, but critical work.

[04:25:00]

Since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022, the United Nations says Ukraine has become the most heavily mined country in the world.

DMYTRO RAGULIA, HEAD OF OPERATIONS, THE HALO TRUST (through translator): Shotgun ammunition, various types of hand grenades, artillery shells ranging in caliber from 30 to 120 millimeters. The level of contamination is extremely high. Honestly, I have not seen such a large concentration of explosive items in one place for a very long time.

ROSALES (voice-over): According to the U.N., an estimated 20 percent of Ukraine's territory, an area larger than England and Wales combined, is now contaminated with mines and other unexploded ordnance. And experts with the HALO Trust, the world's largest humanitarian demining organization, say the process in Ukraine will take at least 10 years. That's time when fields will go unplanted, homes and businesses will remain in ruins and people's livelihoods will continue to suffer.

Already, Ukraine is feeling the impacts from human casualties. The U.N. says hundreds of civilians have been killed or wounded by landmines and other explosive material. To the rising economic toll, the U.N. estimates that the presence of landmines and other munitions is costing the country $11 billion a year. While the scale of the demining project is vast, the HALO Trust says the same advances in technology that have transformed the battlefield are already helping to speed up their own process.

The group has started using drones and A.I. to survey contaminated land and identify potential threats. Technology Prince Harry was able to test out during a recent visit to Ukraine. Elsewhere, the HALO Trust has turned to unmanned systems, like this remote-controlled digger, which excavates soil littered with mines, then chews it up in a specialized grinder.

OLEKSANDR LIATSEVYCH, MECHANICAL DEMINING OPERATOR (through translator): With every explosive object found and with every detonation that takes place in the pit, it inspires and adds confidence that you are not in vain here, that you are helping the country, that you are cleaning the land and saving someone's life.

ROSALES (voice-over): Despite the advances in technology, it's not suited to every task. That's when deminers rely on a more old- fashioned and more dangerous approach, removing the mines by hand.

OLHA KAVA, HALO TRUST DEMINER: Of course, there is fear, but it does not hinder, but on the contrary motivates you to do your job correctly and responsibly.

ROSALES (voice-over): Isabel Rosales, CNN, Atlanta.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BRUNHUBER: Still to come here on CNN Newsroom, an update on talks to potentially reschedule the White House Correspondents' Dinner as some attendees still grapple with the aftershock from a thwarted shooting incident. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[04:30:00]

BRUNHUBER: Welcome back to all of you watching us. Here in the United States, Canada, and around the world, I'm Kim Brunhuber. This is CNN Newsroom.

Talks to reschedule this year's White House Correspondents' Dinner are starting to gain some momentum following the chilling shooting incident just over a week ago. The alleged gunman has now been charged with attempting to assassinate the President.

But as the dust settles, questions still remain over what exactly happened that night and whether or not the press event should still go on in the face of critical security concerns. CNN's Brian Stelter has the latest.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BRIAN STELTER, CNN CHIEF MEDIA ANALYST: Hey there, yes, it's been more than a week now since that shooting incident right outside the White House Correspondents' Dinner in Washington, D.C. And at first, there was widespread skepticism among some of the journalists, some of the correspondents in attendance about the possibility of rescheduling the event anytime soon.

But now, in recent days, there has been an emerging consensus that the dinner should go on, that it should be rescheduled, that there should be some sort of do-over in the coming weeks. The Association's Board of Directors, fellow White House Correspondents from all across the industry, they have been meeting to talk about next steps, quote, "working through options for a rescheduled event." This year's president, Weijia Jiang of CBS News, told members in a memo.

In that note obtained by CNN, Jiang wrote that, as of today, we have not made any decisions. However, I am committed to ensuring our scholars and award winners receive the recognition that is rightfully theirs and that an attack on free speech does not cancel our annual celebration of free speech and the other freedoms protected by the First Amendment.

Right after the shooting incident, which has been labeled an attempted assassination, President Trump said, quote, "We'll do it again within the next 30 days." But that 30-day timeline is considered by the organizers to be unrealistic. The Association is planning a follow-up event within more of a 60-day window, and the exact details have not been worked out. But numerous journalism organizations have reached out to the Association to offer any assistance they can.

Of course, the obstacles to a redo are considerable, starting with the obvious security concerns. And some of the attendees who were there the first time around say they don't want to come back for a second time, partly due to the intensity of the event, some of the stress that was caused as a result. But understandably, the Association does not want to give up on having its annual First Amendment celebration. It's been, as I said, more than a week now since that commotion inside the ballroom, people ducking under tables, being told to get down and wondering what was going on. And D.C. dinner-goers have been processing what happened. Some, many I'd say, have been feeling just fine, while others have had trouble sleeping, have experienced nightmares, have been irritable, that sort of thing.

And experts in acute stress reaction say that is all perfectly normal. The journalists, the politicians who were in the room, they now know a little bit of what it's been like for schoolchildren, for office- goers, for church worshippers, for folks at synagogues, folks in many different places all across America who have endured lockdowns in the past. And it's not just actual and horrible mass shooting events that cause those lockdowns.

It's oftentimes false alarms or isolated incidents that don't make the news. But those experiences, all too common in America, and on that Saturday night now, a little more than a week ago, it happened to impact some media elites, some politicians, people who have normally never been in a room like that before. And, of course, it's important to point out, none of those places, those schools, those churches, those malls, have the level of security that the Washington Hilton ballroom had that night. Back to you.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BRUNHUBER: A startup in Texas is trying to change the way law enforcement responds to school shootings. They're hoping to stop a tragedy before it even starts by leaning on new drone technology.

CNN's Pete Muntean got a chance to see these drones at school shootings. They're hoping to stop a tragedy before it even starts by leaning on new drone technology. CNN's Pete Muntean got a chance to see these drones up close.

[04:35:00]

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: All right. Pilots, good to go.

PETE MUNTEAN, CNN AVIATION CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Here in this Austin, Texas middle school, we're seeing how to stop a school shooting with a swarm of tiny drones. It's a new idea ripped from the world of indoor drone racing, placing a nest of drones inside hallways.

MUNTEAN: So, what do you guys call this?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We've just been calling it the box.

MUNTEAN (voice-over): And launching them remotely the moment a lockdown begins.

JUSTIN MARSTON, CAMPUS GUARDIAN ANGEL: So, in a school shooting, most of the death happens in the first two minutes, and it's really hard to get an effective response there in that first two minutes.

MUNTEAN (voice-over): Justin Marston is the founder of Campus Guardian Angel, the Texas startup that envisions drones mounted on the wall of every school nationwide waiting for an emergency.

For now, the system is still in trials here in Texas with a pilot program launching in Florida and lawmakers in Georgia considering it next.

MARSTON: As soon as people see it, it becomes really obvious and compelling.

MUNTEAN (voice-over): To prove it, I got to watch a test live.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Bye.

MUNTEAN (voice-over): For this demonstration, the drone operators are right at our side instead of in a control room where they navigate using a 3D scan of the school's interior.

Part one, speed, the drones ripped through halls scanning for a threat and feeding point of video back in real time.

BILL KING, CO-FOUNDER, CAMPUS GUARDIAN ANGEL: As soon as I can find him, five seconds later, I can be flying.

MUNTEAN (voice-over): Bill King is a former Navy SEAL and co-founder of Campus Guardian Angel. Live drone video can be relayed to police giving them a clearer picture before they move in.

MUNTEAN: So, we've moved on to a different part of the demo now that apparently requires safety glasses.

MUNTEAN (voice-over): The team here has now pulled out a stand-in shooter. His name --

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Silent Bob.

MUNTEAN: Silent Bob?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, because he never complains.

MUNTEAN (voice-over): Even as he is pelted with pepper spray balls, enough to stop a real shooter. Even an unarmed drone can still pack a punch and can subdue a shooter by ramming into them.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Nice.

RICK GOODRICH, BOERNE INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT: Anything that causes that distraction, anything that takes their attention away from potential victims is a win.

MUNTEAN (voice-over): Rick Goodrich is the chief of safety and security for a school district near San Antonio.

GOODRICH: When a drone enters the room, it's the only thing you're thinking about.

MUNTEAN (voice-over): Campus Guardian Angel admits this system will not be cheap, costing schools about as much as a school police officer's salary and benefits. This technology is still in its early phases and has never been used in an actual school shooting. But the hope is this can be an emerging tool in a fight with no easy answers.

MARSTON: If we see somebody murdering children, we want to stop them murdering children.

MUNTEAN: We're about to see how this works beyond just a demonstration. Florida's first pilot program officially launches Friday at a high school in Deltona. But not everyone is convinced this system is a game changer.

Some critics argue it may not offer much more than what security cameras already provide, and question whether it's the best use of already tight school budgets. So, as this rolls out, the real test won't just be how it works, but whether drones in schools are worth it. Back to you.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BRUNHUBER: Experts say the honeymoon is over for Russia's economy. Coming up, signs of trouble ahead for Russian shoppers after military spending that's been keeping the economy afloat appears to be running out of steam. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[04:40:00]

BRUNHUBER: The war in Iran is giving Russia's economy a potential second lease on life. The U.S. has lifted some of its sanctions on Russian oil exports. And as oil prices skyrocketed, the Kremlin raked in the windfall. The International Energy Agency says Russia's oil revenues almost doubled in March after reaching the lowest levels in years the month before. But that's where the good news ends for Moscow.

The Russian economy contracted in the first two months of the year after riding high on military spending for a long time. Inflation is growing and taxes have gone up because of the rising deficit. Ukraine's strikes on oil infrastructure are also making a dent in exports.

So, for more, we're joined by Heli Simola, a senior economist at the Bank of Finland. And she's speaking to us from Akka, Finland. Thank you so much for being here with us. I really appreciate it. So, Russia's economy, as I said, was really struggling before this whole Iran crisis. Can you give us a snapshot of how Russia's economy was doing at the start of the year?

HELI SIMOLA, SENIOR ECONOMIST, BANK OF FINLAND: At the start of the year, Russian economy was actually in a quite weak position. The growth had slowed down substantially in 2025. And in January, February, the GDP was actually down by 2 percent. So, the growth was only seen in those sectors that are related to the war effort, whereas all the other industries were basically flat or even contracted.

BRUNHUBER: All right. So, things were looking really bad. But now we've got oil prices surging and the Trump administration, as I said, lowered some sanctions. So, how big of a lifeline is that for Putin right now?

SIMOLA: Well, it is clear that Russia will gain support for the weak economy from the sharp rise in oil prices and also the loosening of the sanctions. And Russia's output has already received some support, and especially the budget revenues have increased because of the latest developments. But a key question is how long this situation will prevail.

If the oil price spike will remain quite short-term, then it will only provide temporary support for the Russian economy. Russia's state finances are in quite bad shape. So, in that sense, a short-term relief will not change the situation dramatically.

BRUNHUBER: OK. So, one big but here is the timing of these high oil prices. Another factor, as I mentioned earlier, Ukraine has been hitting Russia's oil infrastructure hard with these long-range drones. I think at one point, about 40 percent of Russia's export capacity was knocked offline. So, how much does that limit Russia's ability to actually cash in?

SIMOLA: Well, Russia certainly suffered from the Ukraine strikes. Temporarily, a large part of Russia's export capacity was actually out of use, and that was certainly visible in Russia's capacity to export.

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But here also the question is on how long does the situation continue. If it would have continued a long time or if Ukraine continues the strikes, this could really have a substantial impact on Russia's capability to get export revenue. But so far Russia has been able to fix the situation relatively rapidly and limit the problems.

BRUNHUBER: You produce a report on this and one thing that jumped out to me is the rubles exchange rate because even if oil does go up in dollar terms, that doesn't automatically mean Moscow is bringing in more rubles. Explain why that matters so much.

SIMOLA: Well, that is certainly a key point for Russia's budget revenues. Russia's budget has been compiled based on a much weaker ruble than the ruble actually at the moment is. And the oil taxation is based on U.S. dollar terms, but of course the budget expenditure is in ruble terms.

So, in that sense, when the ruble exchange rate is quite strong, they are receiving less revenues in ruble terms, even if the U.S. dollar price is higher. And actually, if we look at the situation at the moment with the current oil prices, the current ruble exchange rate, Russia is at the moment only about just to reach its budget plan for this year. And this would mean that the budget is still on deficit by at least 2 percent of GDP, even despite the higher oil prices.

BRUNHUBER: Yes, we've been discussing a lot of unknowables over the shorter and medium term, but let's look big picture here. We keep hearing about Russian labor shortages, inflation, higher taxes, even with more oil money coming in. I mean, is that enough to fix those structural problems?

SIMOLA: That is certainly not enough to fix Russia's larger problems. Russia is still heavily suffering from long-term problems, and the war and the sanctions have made all of those problems even worse. Russia is having an acute labor shortage that is becoming worse because of refugees and immigration.

Russia has long been suffering from lack of investment. And even if there is now more investment, it is not productive investment, but mainly towards those industries that are producing for Russia's war effort. And then the output is actually destroyed quite rapidly in the military field.

And finally, Russia's productivity has been at a very low level already for years. And now, with the war and sanctions restricting Russia's capabilities, it is even more difficult for Russia to improve the productivity.

BRUNHUBER: So, maybe short-term things looking rosy for Moscow, long- term, not so much. Heli Simola, thank you so much for speaking to us. Really appreciate it.

SIMOLA: Thank you very much.

BRUNHUBER: Well, some soccer fans are fed up with the ticket prices this year's FIFA World Cup. Still ahead, a closer look at the mounting backlash surrounding the sport's most prestigious tournament. Stay with us.

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BRUNHUBER: Well, Timmy the Whale is finally free. He's back in open waters after a weeks-long saga that stole the hearts of millions around the world. The humpback whale, dubbed Timmy by fans, was first spotted in early March off Germany's Baltic coast. Far from his natural Atlantic habitat, Timmy's health deteriorated as he repeatedly got stuck on shallow sandbanks in the following weeks. While several rescue attempts failed, then in the final successful try, Timmy was towed in a water-bearing barge around Denmark and released into the North Sea.

All right. now to the NBA playoffs and the Game 7 thriller between the Boston Celtics and the Philadelphia 76ers. Despite trailing in the series three games to one, Philadelphia remained defiant, coming out swinging during Saturday's final matchup. They led by as much as 18 points in the third quarter. The Celtics would claw their way back, but it wasn't enough to stop the Sixers, who held on for the win. Philadelphia will now advance to the conference semifinals to face the New York Knicks.

And then, later today, we have two more Game 7 showdowns in the East. The Orlando Magic take on the Detroit Pistons, and the Toronto Raptors face the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Well, Golden Tempo has won the 152nd run for the Roses at Churchill Downs. The three-year-old Colt surged from behind the back to take the first leg of the Triple Crown by a nose at 23-1 odds. Golden Tempo's stunning victory was history-making. Cherie Devaux became the first female trainer to win at the Kentucky Derby. Jockey Jose Ortiz also picked up his first Derby win while racing against his brother, who was riding the horse favored to win.

A growing backlash over sky-high ticket prices for the 2026 World Cup is prompting FIFA officials to review their ticketing strategy for 2030. But many soccer fans are losing hope of attending this year's tournament after being priced out of matches in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. CNN's Valeria Leon has the latest from Mexico City.

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VALERIA LEON, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): For a country that lives and breathes soccer, this World Cup remains out of reach for many. Sky-high ticket prices and just a handful of matches on home turf, leaving many Mexican fans feeling left out. Francisco Ferreira compares access to Mexico's past World Cups to this one.

FRANCISCO JAVIER FERREIRA, SOCCER FAN IN GUADALAJARA (through translator): It doesn't feel the same. Back then, it felt like Mexico's World Cup. Now, it feels like it belongs to the United States. And the ticket prices, they're impossible.

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LEON (voice-over): The opening match in Mexico City, with some tickets now selling for as much as $16,000 on official FIFA sites. And on resale sites, even higher, a staggering amount that puts this tournament far out of reach for all but the ultra-wealthy.

LEON: In Mexico City, the average family earns just over $2,000 a year. Roughly the cost of a single ticket. And in a city where many local fans were able to attend World Cups hosted here in 1970 and '86, many feel they've been priced out.

LEON (voice-over): But the frustration started months ago. FIFA's lottery-style sales system, designed to manage global demand, left thousands without access, even at base prices.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): I haven't been able to get tickets, but if I do, I'll be there.

LEON (voice-over): And now, with the final sales phase underway, resale prices are skyrocketing, turning tickets into luxury items, and leaving fans of the national team with only one option, watching the matches on a screen. MONICA, SOCCER FAN IN MEXICO CITY (through translator): I hope Mexico wins, but either way, I just want it to be exciting. A good show, of course. At this rate, the cheers of Mexican fans will mostly be heard outside the stadium.

LEON (voice-over): Valeria Leon, CNN, Mexico City.

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SCIUTTO: Shakira drew a huge crowd of fans to her free concert in Rio de Janeiro. According to city officials, an estimated two million fans gathered on Copacabana Beach Saturday to see the Colombian singer perform. It's expected to be the biggest show of her career. Authorities deployed nearly 8,000 officers along with drones and facial recognition cameras. Brazilian officials describe it as the biggest security operation yet for one of Copacabana's legendary mega- concerts.

Well, that wraps this hour of CNN Newsroom. I'm Kim Brunhuber. I'll be back with more news in just a moment.

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