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CNN Live Saturday

Surveillance Plane Crew Returns to Home Base

Aired April 14, 2001 - 15:00   ET

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

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DONNA KELLEY, CNN ANCHOR: It was a mission that began 13 days ago, a routine surveillance flight through what they say -- the United States says -- was international airspace. Today, after 11 days in captivity, and a subsequent debriefing in Hawaii, the 24-member crew of the U.S. spy plane returns home to friends, and family, and a hero's welcome.

Joining us from Hickam Air Force base in Hawaii is CNN's Rusty Dornin. Hi, Rusty.

RUSTY DORNIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Donna. Well, the crew boarded that DC-9 about an hour and a half ago, headed for five-hour flight taking them to Whidbey Island, Washington. And of course, what they have all been waiting for, being reunited with their family and friends.

But before they left, they did -- three crew members did come before the press and were able to say a few words and answer a few questions. And Lieutenant Shane Osborn -- finally we got to hear what was going through his mind right as the Chinese fighter collided with his surveillance aircraft.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LIEUTENANT SHANE OSBORN, MISSION COMMANDER: First thing I thought was, this guy just killed us. The plane snap-rolled to about 130 degrees angle, which is getting near the inverted side. I remember looking up, seeing water, when I lifted the head up. And I also saw another plane smoking towards the earth with flames coming out of it.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

DORNIN: Apparently, Washington did release a video yesterday showing that other Chinese aircraft had aggressively intercepted U.S. surveillance aircraft. Now, the crew and Lieutenant Osborn was aware of that, and he had had it happen to him before, but it had never happened quite as aggressively. Apparently, the Chinese fighter in this case came dangerously close to the EP-3 twice before hit his aircraft.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

OSBORN: He would come up close, co-altitude, within about three to five feet, was making gestures. Pulled back a little bit. Came back up again and made some more gestures. And the third time, his closure rate was too far. Instead of under-running, he attempted to kind of turn and pitch up, and that was when his vertical stabilizer, where it meets the fuselage of the aircraft, impacted my number one propeller, basically, pretty much tearing his aircraft apart.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

DORNIN: At that point, Lieutenant Osborn and the crew were in a nose dive. They lost 7,500 feet before he was able to level out the aircraft.

Now, of course he did consider ditching, but after that, his first order was what they call an "emergency destroy plan." He claims he did execute that offshore, that's all he would say about destroying the sensitive surveillance equipment.

Now once on the ground, of course, they were met by Chinese troops. He says they were treated politely and with respect. They were -- doctors were able see them. They were fed well. But the one unpleasant part, of course, was the interrogation. He was interrogated every night, and there was a lot of sleep deprivation. They would wake him up at different times of the night.

But he says, no apologies. He feels that their crew did everything by the book, and that they did it right. And now, they are on their way back to see their loved ones -- Donna.

KELLEY: Rusty Dornin at Hickam Air Force base, thanks.

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