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Early Start with John Berman and Zoraida Sambolin

Taiwan Grounds ATR-72 Planes; Investigators Probe New York Train Wreck; The War on ISIS: Middle East Outrage; Hackers Hit Insurance Giant; Secretary of State Kerry in Ukraine; Patriots Celebrate Super Bowl Victory

Aired February 05, 2015 - 05:00   ET

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

CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN ANCHOR: Happening right now: divers searching the water and combing the wreckage of a deadly plane crash, this as investigators try to figure out what went so terribly wrong. We are live with new information overnight.

JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: New outrage and new promises for vengeance after ISIS kills a Jordanian pilot. New involvement in the battle against ISIS. We're live with new information.

ROMANS: Breaking overnight: a huge data breach at one of the largest health insurance companies in the country. The Social Security numbers of 80 million people could now be in the hands of hackers and on the black market. What we are learning this morning ahead.

Good morning and welcome to EARLY START. I'm Christine Romans.

BERMAN: I'm John Berman. Great to see you. It is Thursday, February 5th. It is 5:00 a.m. in the East.

And this morning, in the wake of the horrifying crash in Taiwan, just look at the footage. Officials are grounding all planes of the same model, ATR-72s, until these planes can be inspected. So far, 32 people are confirmed dead in this crash, 15 injured and 11 people still missing.

Investigators have downloaded the information from the black boxes and they will analyze the crashes from the dash cam video. We have two different perspectives right now. They will also going to look at the brief transmission from the cockpit which declared an engine flameout and mayday. Listen.

(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)

PILOT: Mayday. Mayday. Engine flameout.

(END AUDIO CLIP)

BERMAN: CNN's Anna Coren is live for us right by the river in Taipei where the plane crashed.

Anna, what's the latest? ANNA COREN, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes, just chilling when

you hear whether it is the pilot or co-pilot after the words mayday, mayday, engine flameout.

That was said moments after they took off from the domestic airport here in Taipei. We are standing over that bridge that the plane hit. The left wing clipping this overpass, which is above us, before it plunged into the Keelung River behind us. And, you know, it's just extraordinary that 15 people managed to survive, many of them unscathed, when you think of the death toll, the people who died on impact, and then the many who would have drowned because they were stuck in their seatbelts. These are some of the stories we are hearing from survivors recovering in hospital.

But, look, as far as the search goes, divers have been scouring this river where they believe the 11 bodies still remain. They have been traveling up and down for several miles. They set up a dragnet further downstream, in hope of catching those bodies.

The divers got out of the water a short time ago. It's now very dark here, visibility obviously nonexistent in the water. They have been struggling all day because of the poor visibility. It is extremely muddy and it's been extremely wet.

Also, according to divers, the water is extremely cold. So, these are some of the obstacles and challenges they have. In speaking to one of those divers, he said, you know, we want these people to go home. We want them to go home to their loved ones. Families have been gathering here in Taipei to retrieve those bodies. Many people on board were Chinese tourists who had come to Taipei.

So, this is an ongoing investigation. We saw a short time ago the military removing more debris. The large chunk of the fuselage was lifted on a truck this afternoon. It is being driven away as part of the investigation. Authorities also looking at the two black boxes to get a better idea too what went wrong, but certainly from what we are hearing from the aviation body here in Taiwan is that they are certainly looking at engine failure as being the cause of this horrific crash.

BERMAN: They have footage to look at, they have the black boxes, and now, they have that mayday call as well.

Anna Coren for us in Taipei, thanks so much.

ROMANS: New information on the deadly train crash north of New York City. This morning, service has resumed on the commuter rail line, where a train slammed into an SUV stopped on the tracks Tuesday night. The crash ignited an inferno that consumed the first passenger car killing six and injuring 15.

This is the deadliest accident in the history of the Metro North Line. Two mysteries facing investigators this morning: what happened with the driver of the SUV? Why didn't she move the SUV off the tracks as the warning signal blared? And where we so many killed in this train versus car accident? It's a kind of a crash that is rarely dangerous for passengers.

For details on the investigation, let's turn it over now to CNN's Rene Marsh. She's on the scene.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

RENE MARSH, CNN WASHINGTON ORRESPONDENT: Christine and John, the train and SUV have been removed from the tracks. As early as today, investigators could start the process of interviewing the train's crew.

We know this Metro North train left Grand Central station Tuesday evening. And when it got to this suburb just about 30 miles outside of New York City, there was an SUV sitting in the middle of the tracks. It's unclear why this SUV was stopped on the tracks. We do know that vehicles are allowed to cross over the railroad tracks in this area, but only when the traffic signal is green and gives the driver a go.

Once the train collided with this SUV, that triggered a fiery explosion. Investigators believe the fuel from the SUV is what really ignited the flames here. As you know, six people lost their lives; one of those, the driver of that SUV. We also know that investigators now have the recorders from the train, two of the recorders. They downloaded that information.

And as early as today, we could find out how fast this train was traveling and when the brakes were applied -- Christine and John.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BERMAN: Thanks, Rene Marsh, for that.

This morning, outrage across the Arab world still at the murder of Jordanian fighter pilot Muath al Kaseasbeh at the hands of ISIS militants. Governments and groups on opposite sides, such as the Assad regime in Syria and the al Qaeda trying to bring that regime now, are uniformly denouncing this killing as monstrous and depraved.

At least one Arab member of the U.S. coalition stepped back from the fight. The UAE, the United Arab Emirates, stopped flying airstrikes against ISIS back in December when al Kaseasbeh was taken prisoner. "The New York Times" reports the UAE is worried about the safety of its pilots in the wake of that hostage situation.

But Jordan's king and his people, they say they want vengeance. The king before he left the United States told U.S. House members the only problem we will have is running out of fuel and bullets. Now, the king within this hour will meet with a group of aides to map out an anti-ISIS strategy, perhaps new involvement, new air strikes.

Let's go to Atika Shubert in Amman for the very latest -- Atika.

ATIKA SHUBERT, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's right. We are now hearing that King Abdullah may soon leave for the village of Karak. That is the town where the al Kaseasbeh family lives. He is going to pay his condolences but also assure them that their son's death will not be in vain. And that means essentially stepping up more strikes against ISIS and taking the fight directly to ISIS in Syria and Iraq.

We already know from one U.S. official that Jordan has requested to fly more missions against ISIS. We'll have to see how that turns out in the next couple of days. But clearly, Jordan wants to do more. It has requested more munitions, faster processing of the military equipment it needs to carry out the airstrikes. And right now with the Jordanian public so firmly behind King Abdullah, it seems he wants to take action as soon as possible.

BERMAN: He has the window of opportunity to increase the involvement if he so chooses. It will be interesting to see what happens in the coming days and weeks. Atika Shubert for us in Amman.

The United States is moving more troops and hardware into northern Iraq. Search and rescue teams being shifted there to prepare in the event that a U.S. plane is shot down in the ISIS territory, also a coalition plane.

ISIS brutality showing no signs of slowing down. United Nations committee says militants are selling abducted Iraqi children as sex slaves and killing others and using others as human shields against airstrikes. Children of all backgrounds here, including Yazidis, Shiites and Sunni, apparently have all been rounded up. That is going on in Iraq and Syria. Officials in Libya are raising alarms that ISIS is expanding its footprint there. On Wednesday, ISIS claimed responsibility for storming one of the largest oil fields in Libya.

ROMANS: All right. Hackers stealing a huge information from insurance giant Anthem. The company says it is investigating, but up to 80 million records compromised. That makes this one of the largest breaches in corporate history.

So, just what did the hackers did? Names, birthdays, Social Security and addresses and job information and pay data. But the insurance company says credit card data and medical records were not comprised. Anthem, the second largest health insurer in the United States, the company says it will notify current and former customers if their data was stolen and offer free credit monitoring and identity protection. You can put that letter right to the next to all of the other ones and your credit companies and your retailers.

Anthem's CEO says even his information was stolen during this sophisticated external hack. No word yet who is behind it. Anthem working with security experts and the FBI, it says.

All right. Is the U.S. getting more involved in the war with Ukraine? Secretary of State John Kerry just landed in Kiev this morning. We're breaking down what the visit could mean and what the U.S. is offering to Ukrainians, next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ROMANS: Happening this morning, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry just arrived in Ukraine to hold talks with the country's president and other top officials as the U.S. considers arming Ukrainian troops with defensive weapons.

Senior international correspondent Matthew Chance joins us live from Moscow with the latest.

And, you know, diplomats traveling with the secretary of state, telling reporters when they go off that plane, they're going to give millions more in humanitarian aid. Any word on this so-called defensive aid?

MATTHEW CHANCE, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: No, not so far. That's what everybody in Ukraine and in Russia will be listening for. Whether John Kerry has a message from the U.S. administration as to them changing their policy with regard to providing lethal aid to the government's side. The policy at the moment is to provide non lethal aid. They provide flak jackets and night vision goggles and things like that. But they stop short of providing weaponry that could actually use to prosecute the war in the east on the side of the Ukrainian government.

And the big risk that the administration is having to weigh is what the impact would be of injecting more weapons into the warzone, you could actually escalate the conflict. The reaction of the Russians and Vladimir Putin, the Russian leader, is unpredictable. Would he see this as an escalation and respond in kind?

And so, it's very difficult balance, delicate balance rather that the U.S. administration has to make. Remember, the stakes are extremely high. Already in the war zone as it stands, more than 5,000 people have been killed. If there is an escalation, many hundreds of thousands of people's lives could be put at risk, Christine.

ROMANS: Matthew Chance this morning in Moscow -- thank you, Matthew.

BERMAN: An unusual warning from the judge during day three of testimony in the Aaron Hernandez murder trial. It happened when the mother of victim Odin Lloyd broke down on the stand after being shown a picture of her son's dead body.

Now, listen to her exchange with prosecutors followed by a stern lecture from Judge Susan Garsh.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Does that depict your son's body?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes.

JUDGE SUSAN GARSH, HERNANDEZ TRIAL CASE: It is important THAT you manage during this time you are testifying to retain control of your emotions and not to cry while you are looking at any photo that may be shown to you. Do you understand that?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes, ma'am.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BERMAN: Retain control of your emotions when you're being shown a photo of your dead child.

ROMANS: That could be the witness on the stand may be the second worst day of her life, and being told by a judge -- admonished by a judge not to cry. I don't know if that's appropriate.

BERMAN: A lot of people on twitter telling us they thought the judge went too far. I would like to hear from legal experts. If you are a lawyer out there, let us know what you think if that was permissible for the judge to do that in a trial.

Testimony resumes at 9:00 a.m. Eastern. North Attleboro Police Captain Joseph DiRenzo will be on the stand. He was the first to arrive at the scene when Lloyd's body was found in 2013.

ROMANS: A federal jury has convicted the creator of the Silk Road Web site, Ross Ulbricht, on drug conspiracy and other charges. Prosecutors say Ulbricht was the mastermind of the black market site which allegedly served as a drug trafficking version of eBay, connecting a worldwide network of criminals and users and dealers. He faces up to 30 years to life in prison. Ulbricht's lawyers planned to appeal.

BERMAN: While Bobbi Kristina Brown remains on life support, there are new details concerning the events that led to her hospitalization. An attorney says Bobbi Kristina's friend Max Lomas is the one who found her face down and unresponsive in a full bathtub last weekend. According to the police report, Lomas called 911, while Brown's partner, Nick Gordon, administered CPR. The lawyer says Lomas is cooperating with authorities in this investigation.

ROMANS: Jeb Bush is not mincing words on the subject of vaccinations. He has seen the fallout after his fellow presidential hopefuls Rand Paul and Chris Christie suggested parents should have a choice about vaccinating their children. But with 99 cases of measles in California and 108 overall in 15 states and Washington, D.C., Bush is making it crystal clear where he stands.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JEB BUSH (R), FORMER FLORIDA GOVERNOR: Parents ought to make sure their children are vaccinated. Parents have a responsibility to make sure their children are protected, over and out.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROMANS: Over and out. Governor Christie is clarifying his remarks. He's now telling reporters there is no question kids should be vaccinated against the measles.

Check out this tweet from Rand Paul. It shows the Kentucky senator getting a booster vaccine and he writes, "Wonder how the liberal media will misreport this."

BERMAN: The head of the Federal Communications Commission proposing tough net neutrality rules. Chairman Tom Wheeler is looking to regulate Internet service like the utility, but with modernize oversight. The move would ban broadband providers from charging Web sites for faster delivery of their content, and from blocking or slowing any legal online content or service. The proposed rules echo those called for by President Obama.

ROMANS: Senate Democrats standing firm, rejecting a second attempt by Republicans to undo President Obama's immigration reform policies. They again blocked a bill that also is tied to the funding for the Department of Homeland Security. Democrats say GOP risks shutting down a critical government agency which is due to run out of money on February 27th.

BERMAN: A Washington lawmaker is shrugging off a kerfuffle with the phrase "haters are going to hate." Illinois Congressman Aaron Schock is being asked a lot of questions after redecorating his office in the style of the PBS TV series "Downton Abbey."

ROMANS: Although I don't think it looks much like "Downton Abbey."

BERMAN: I think it is the drawing room of "Downton", just saying.

Schock says he has never actually seen the show. Obviously, the decorator had though because he gave the office the full Lord Grantham.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. AARON SCHOCK (R), ILLINOIS: You know, as Taylor Swift said, haters are going to hate. So --

REPORTER: Haters are going to hate. So, is this what this is about, haters are going to hate?

SCHOCK: I think there is obviously some honest intrigue because most members' offices are cream walls.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BERMAN: Aaron Schock talking to ABC's Jeff Zeleny there. The congressman insists he will pay for the "Downton" makeover, not taxpayers.

I want to know how you would decorate your congressional office if you were elected to Congress.

ROMANS: Most of them have beige walls and beige phones.

BERMAN: You're avoiding the question here. You would do "The Love Boat."

ROMANS: Yes. I would have a bar. Isaac with the bar and the whole bit. That would be nice.

BERMAN: Fantastic.

All right. Nineteen minutes after the hour. Nobody knows how to party like they know how to party. I'm talking about the Patriots. That's Gronk. Rob Gronkowski. This is the party we can show the kids because some of the other stuff not safe viewing.

Andy Scholes with it all in the "Bleacher Report", next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BERMAN: All right. The New England Patriots took their Super Bowl celebration to the streets of Boston. Wow! What a parade it was.

ROMANS: Andy Scholes has more on this morning's "Bleacher Report".

Hey, Andy.

ANDY SCHOLES, CNN SPORTS CORRESPONDENT: Hey, good morning, guys.

Yes, they didn't have a celebration rally because of the bitter cold temperatures in Boston yesterday. But that didn't stop anyone from having a good time with the parade. We know no one knows how to party quite like Gronk in what's becoming a Super Bowl parade tradition. The Patriots caught a mini battle of fireball from a fan and downed it in seconds. Marshawn Lynch did pretty much the same thing.

Now, Tom Brady wasn't taking shots, but having a good time celebrating his fourth Super Bowl win with his son.

The Patriots continued to party, while the Seahawks -- they are still wondering what could have been. When speaking with the "Today" show, Pete Carroll, he reflected on Malcolm Butler's interception that sealed the win for New England.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

PETE CARROLL, SEAHAWKS: Immediately within the instant of the turnover, the gravity of what just happened, I understood. There's only a second or two before you stand up and start looking ahead and getting ready for what's coming.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SCHOLES: All right. We won't be seeing Syracuse in the NCAA tournament. The Orange has self imposed a post season ban in the response of the investigation of the infractions by the team. The alleged violations occurred during the 2007 season. School officials say no one on the current team is involved.

In the NBA last night, Steph Curry was at it again. He scored 26 points in the third quarter alone and finished with 51 in the game. Curry hit 10 threes. The only player in NBA history with multiple games with 50-plus points, and the 10-plus three pointers made. Warriors beat the Mavs, 128-114.

Guys, this comes shortly after his backcourt teammate Klay Thompson scored 37 points in one quarter. I'll tell you what, those two, they are definitely fun to watch when they are in the court together.

BERMAN: I get to see a little Golden State basketball, because, you now, the West Coast games are actually when I wake up. I tell people, Andy, that if you are not watching the Golden State Warriors play basketball right now, you are missing out a phenomenon. They are one of the fun teams I have seen in years.

SCHOLES: It's unbelievable. People are saying it's the best shooting backcourt in NBA history. And they are definitely proving it just this season long.

ROMANS: I don't know what a fire ball is. Can we go back to the Patriots? What is a fire ball and why is Gronk so good at them?

SCHOLES: I believe it's some sort of a cinnamon liquor shot.

BERMAN: It's an adult beverage. It's an adult beverage, Christine Romans. That's all you need to know.

ROMANS: Thanks, Andy.

SCHOLES: All right.

ROMANS: Happening: divers searching the wreckage of a plane crash. Investigators trying to figure out what went so wrong. We are live after the break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)