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Isa Soares Tonight

U.S. And Iran Trade Shots Around The Strait Of Hormuz; Two People Killed After A Car Rams Into A Crowd In The German City Of Leipzig; A Suspected Virus Outbreak On A Cruise Ship Carrying More Than 150 People Turn Deadly; Ceasefire In Question As U.S. And Iran Trade Fire; U.S. And Iran Trading Fire Around Strait Of Hormuz; United Flight Hits Bakery Truck While Landing In New Jersey; Spirit Airlines Shuts Down All Global Operations. Aired 2-3p ET

Aired May 04, 2026 - 14:00   ET

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

[14:00:00]

MAX FOSTER, HOST, ISA SOARES TONIGHT: A very warm welcome to the show, everyone, I'm Max Foster in for Isa Soares. Tonight, an escalating

situation in the Middle East as the U.S. and Iran trade shots around the Strait of Hormuz.

Tehran also attacking the UAE for the first time in weeks. We'll be live from the region in just a moment. Plus, at least, two people killed after a

car rams into a crowd in the German city of Leipzig. We'll have the latest on the investigation.

Then a suspected virus outbreak on a cruise ship carrying more than 150 people turn deadly. I'll ask an epidemiologist what we should know about

the hantavirus. We're starting with breaking news there out of the Middle East, because the United States and Iran are resuming attacks around the

Persian Gulf, raising fears a fragile ceasefire may soon completely crumble.

The U.S. says it's blown up several Iranian boats in the Strait of Hormuz. In an online post, President Trump said the only damage done by Iran today

was to a South Korean-linked vessel, that's amid multiple attacks by Tehran on its gulf neighbors.

The United Arab Emirates says it intercepted three missiles from Iran. Rhetoric is also flying back-and-forth between Washington and Tehran. The

American military says two U.S.-flagged vessels successfully transited the Strait. Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard calls that an outright lie.

Earlier, the U.S. rejected claims from Tehran that an American ship had been hit by Iranian missiles. Our Paula Hancocks is in Abu Dhabi, first,

though, to Nic Robertson, who is in Islamabad for us, because we're getting mixed messages from both sides. Nic, just tell us what happened today?

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMATIC EDITOR: Yes, it's an escalating picture. I think the day began with the Project Freedom. President Trump

trying to initiate an effort using some of the Naval assets in the region.

Guided missile destroyers, 100 aircraft, 15,000 service personnel to guide, not escort, that was the language being used. The stranded maritime vessels

in the gulf through the Strait of Hormuz, and then onwards with their -- with their precious cargoes.

That seemed to trigger an engagement by Iranian forces within the Strait of Hormuz. The Iranians earlier in the day, indicating that they had targeted

swift action against the U.S. Naval vessel, essentially preventing it enter the Strait of Hormuz.

Central Command said that wasn't true. Central Command went on to say that they've been able to help escort out two civilian commercial vessels from

the gulf through the Strait of Hormuz, and at the same time have been able to get a guided missile destroyer into the gulf through the -- through the

Strait of Hormuz.

Again, as you were mentioning, that's something that the Iranians have denied. And then reports of at least, two vessels, a UAE-linked vessel hit

by two-attack drones and a South Korean vessel still inside the gulf hit.

It appears that anchor in its engine room set on fire there by Iranian -- by the Iranian military or assets belonging to them. Then that's when the -

- and this is a long narrative here, I have to say. And that's when Iran began to attack not only the UAE, Fujairah, the oil facility there,

injuring through -- three Indian nationals.

But it also hit in Oman as well, injuring two people in a residential building. So, all of this building to an escalation. So, this does not

sound like a pathway to successful talks. The ball has been in the Iranian court early today to provide a response to the U.S., response to them over

the weekend, where that stands at the moment -- and that was the position of the Foreign Ministry in Tehran earlier today.

[14:05:00]

Where that stands at the end of today, after these kinetic military exchanges and denials, rebuttals of what each side is saying really isn't

clear. No one saying the talks are off or over, but it's not a conducive environment. Max.

FOSTER: Paula, just take us through this incident in the UAE because this is something we haven't seen for a while.

PAULA HANCOCKS, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Max, so, this all started around -- it was sort of late afternoon, early evening when the

first emergency alerts came through to people's phones here in the UAE in a number of different cities, Dubai, Sharjah, Ras Al-Khaimah.

And we then heard from the Ministry of Defense that there had been interceptions that had been carried out. Three missiles had been

intercepted from Iran, according to officials over territorial waters.

And then a fourth one fell into the sea. Now, these are the first interceptions that we have seen since April 9th. So, the day after the

ceasefire was called, there were some missiles and drones that were fired in the hours after that ceasefire came into being.

It is a sadly familiar sound for people and residents of the UAE that it first happened when I was driving, and I could see many people running to

get inside buildings. That is the advice to shelter, to make sure that you can't be injured by debris from intercepted projectiles.

Now, we also saw that there were some injuries on the east coast in Fujairah. This is the oil industry zone. And according to authorities

there, three Indian nationals were injured. Moderate injuries we're being told though three of them were taken to hospital.

And authorities there are now battling a major fire, is the way they described it. This is a key area, Fujairah, because it's on the east coast

of the UAE. So, it doesn't need to pass oil through the Strait of Hormuz. So, it's really a key oil facility for the Emirates.

And it has come under target from Iranian projectiles a number of times in the past. Now, we've just heard as well from the Ministry of Education

saying that there is going to be distance learning for schools until Friday.

It is now 10 O'clock at night here on Monday night. Clearly, it is very uncertain what exactly the next hours will bring, and whether or not this

is temporary or whether this is showing something more ominous that is to come.

So, certainly, the Ministry of Education not taking any chances, and schools and universities will be distance learning. But as I say, it is a

sadly familiar feeling for many residents here in the UAE. This was the country that was hit by far the hardest by Iranian retaliation than any

other gulf nation, than even Israel itself.

We did hear from Israel that they sent over Iron Dome missile defense during the war to try and help protect the UAE from this barrage from Iran.

We did hear from the military themselves that they did intercept more than 90 percent of what was incoming.

But there is no doubt that the UAE has been singled out by Iran as to have the most significant retaliation. And once again, it's been almost a month

since we have heard the sound of interceptions, since we've heard those emergency alerts.

But it does appear this Monday night that, that reality has set in once again for the residents of the UAE. Max?

FOSTER: Paula, Nic, thank you both very much indeed. Well, hopes for a diplomatic off-ramp appear to have dimmed then significantly in just the

past few hours. That as the U.S. and Iran battled to gain the upper hand in that crucial Strait of Hormuz.

We're joined now by retired Royal Navy Commander Tom Sharpe, he's currently a senior adviser at Qorvis. Thank you so much for joining us, Tom. I mean,

can we describe this as a ceasefire at the moment?

TOM SHARPE, SENIOR ADVISER, QORVIS: Well, it's been fragile all the way through, and there have been tit-for-tat strikes. There have been fast-

attack craft strikes even throughout what we were calling the ceasefire until this morning.

In fact, project freedom this morning, there was a lot of sort of noise around it, but in reality, I never -- I didn't think it changed that much.

The -- and Nic was quite right to point out the use of the word guiding ships through.

That's not a recognized military term. It was very clear we were trying to avoid the word escort because the threat is still too high. And I think --

I think that is the bottom line here. The threat in the Strait of Hormuz has been too high throughout to be able to operate properly and restore

freedom of navigation, and that hasn't changed this evening. That's for certain.

[14:10:00]

FOSTER: Some people suggesting that Iran has the upper hand here. I mean, what do you make of that? Because they've got a very particular strategy,

haven't they? But of course, they're up against the biggest military in the world.

SHARPE: I'm not sure it's necessarily helpful to say who is winning or losing in that respect. But I would say that Iran is achieving their

strategic end state, which is control of the Strait. And they have been since the 1st of March, that hasn't changed.

They are -- they've got a global voice in the sort of economic discussions, and they -- they're ensuring regime survival in some form or other. And

that's what they -- those are the three things they want to do, and they are achieving it. And this is part of that.

So, you know, we -- to restore freedom of navigation, we have to stop them from firing. And that can only happen one of three ways. They're either

made to stop, and they choose to stop or they're told to stop by someone like China. And of course, we're not hearing too much from them today, but

they remain key in all of this.

FOSTER: Around this, we've had these attacks on the gulf neighbors as well, haven't we? That Paula was talking about. So, it's become a very complex

picture very quickly.

SHARPE: Yes, I think -- and I mean, well, the UAE took more than 53 percent of the strikes in the initial flurry back at the beginning of March, they

took over 50 percent of all strikes went into the UAE. Oman actually right back then was down at something like 6 percent, very low.

So, this is nothing new -- I mean, this is just a sort of the strikes resuming, not theater-wide, just into those two countries. And it's a

question of whether Iran wants to escalate this more now or whether the U.S. do.

And I think the key in the U.S. calculus will be the question, are we better off trying to hit their target -- their targeting in the Strait of

Hormuz if we want to reopen it? Or are we better off destabilizing the regime so that, that gets properly removed and we can start from scratch

and Israel is going to have a view on that.

FOSTER: OK, Commander Tom Sharpe, appreciate your time as ever, thank you. The chief of Iranian-backed Hezbollah condemning Israel's unrelenting

attacks on Lebanon, meanwhile, saying there is no ceasefire there.

Today, Israel carried out a series of strikes after issuing new evacuation orders for four towns in southern Lebanon. Hezbollah is pushing back on

Israel's vow to create what it calls a buffer zone in the area, saying there's no such thing and never will be.

Both Israel and Hezbollah accuse each other of violating the truce announced last month. Now, we're going to go to some breaking news out of

Germany where a large security operation is underway this hour in Leipzig.

Police say at least two people were killed after a car rammed into a crowd. They say the driver has been arrested and no longer poses a threat.

Authorities say two people were severely injured, and the incident happened on a major street in Leipzig, close to historic sites. The motive is

unclear, Melissa, isn't it? You've been following developments from Paris.

MELISSA BELL, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: That's right, Max, nothing yet on the motive. We've just been hearing from German officials. They're

speaking in Leipzig to these events of earlier today, saying that whilst that 33-year-old German citizen had been arrested at -- caught, even as he

was still at the wheel of his car after that car ramming incident.

And he made his way down a pedestrian street, killing two people, but seriously wounding two others to such an extent, Max, that the proceedings

that have been launched against him include two counts of murder and two counts of attempted murder.

What we are hearing, though, is very little about what they believe his motive might have been, although authorities would not rule out potentially

mental health issues when they were asked by reporters.

So, some pretty dramatic images there from Leipzig this afternoon. And for anyone who would have been anywhere near it, it would have been pretty

terrifying, essentially, he headed down a pedestrian street in his car, causing a fair amount of chaos, and again, these two deaths.

There have been a number of these sorts of car ramming incidents these last few years. In Germany, there are some that could be traced to far-right

sympathies, others have been linked to inspiration or sort of Islamist inspiration attacks.

Nothing here to suggest any of that. But certainly, the authorities have ruled out that this was accidental. This was definitely deliberate. The

question now of why he did it still remains. Max.

FOSTER: Melissa, I appreciate it. Thank you. Three people have died after a suspected hantavirus outbreak on a cruise ship in the Atlantic Ocean. The

MV Hondius is currently anchored off Cape Verde, an island nation in West Africa after beginning its journey in Argentina.

Of the nearly 150 still on board, at least three other people have fallen ill. Local health authorities aren't allowing passengers to go ashore. It

isn't yet clear how the infections actually occurred on it.

[14:15:00]

Some of those on the vessel are taking to social media in a plea for help.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We're not just a story. We're not just headlines. We're people. People with families, with lives, with people waiting for us at

home. There's a lot of uncertainty, and that's the hardest part. All we want right now is to feel safe, to have clarity, and to get home.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

FOSTER: Want to bring in Dr. Michael Baker, he's an epidemiologist and Professor of Public Health with the University of Otago in New Zealand.

Thank you so much for joining us. It's important to keep everyone contained right now, I assume, obviously very difficult for them as well.

MICHAEL BAKER, EPIDEMIOLOGIST & PROFESSOR, PUBLIC HEALTH, UNIVERSITY OF OTAGO: Yes, greeting, Max. This is an exceptionally unusual outbreak

occurring on a cruise ship. I mean, the hantaviruses is quite a diverse group of viruses that cause illness across the Americas and Europe and

Asia.

The mode of transmission is from rodents and often via dust that's been contaminated by urine or feces and it's inhaled. So, a big question is how

this outbreak even started in this setting. But certainly, the fact that it's been quite prolonged, and that it appears that six people have become

ill suggests the possibility of person-to-person transmission, which is very rare.

But that does mean, and we can see the distress of other passengers, that isolation of those two remaining cases on board that have symptoms is

really critically important. And I believe the authorities will be doing that.

And the other thing that's really important, of course, is that those two people are evacuated to a hospital that has an intensive care unit and that

can treat them if they get seriously ill, because this illness has a 40 percent fatality risk.

FOSTER: Yes, and I gather there's no, you know, defined cure, is there either? But I just wanted to ask what you said about the human-to-human

transmission, because as you say, that it does happen very rarely. But if it's happening here, then would that suggest a new strain for it to move

between several people?

BAKER: Yes, so that's a critical -- once the current outbreak has been managed and controlled, which I think is happening now, it will be vital to

investigate the sequence of events because this ship, of course, started in Argentina, this trip.

And it's now several weeks have elapsed, and we're still seeing these potential cases. So, it seems unlikely that all of these people were

exposed in Argentina. I mean, it does have a long incubation period, but that seems really unlikely.

So, it does raise the possibility of person-to-person transmission. Of course, we have to remember that only one of these cases has actually been

laboratory confirmed. So, we do need to have the rest of the cases confirmed and to construct their timeline and work out what the sequence of

events was.

FOSTER: Is the alternative that it could have somehow got into the system, the water system or something, and it was spreading that way?

BAKER: Yes, there are some other possibilities. One other is that the ship itself might have been contaminated with say, rodent droppings or something

of that nature, or something taken on board the ship might have been contaminated. It's pretty unlikely.

The most likely scenario is that one of the travelers was exposed in Argentina, was incubating the infection, or perhaps several of the

travelers. But again, all of this need -- will come out in the full investigation.

But the dominant hantavirus in Argentina is one, the Andes strain is one that is associated with these rare cases of person-to-person transmission.

It's not been totally documented. So that may be just a feature of this particular virus.

FOSTER: As you say, the incubation period is long, isn't it? I think it could be up to eight weeks before you start seeing the --

BAKER: Yes --

FOSTER: Symptoms. But that creates a big problem for the public health officials, doesn't it? Because you have to be absolutely sure that it has

been contained and that everyone's been tested before you let them off the -- off the ship. They're stuck now, aren't they?

BAKER: Yes, well, they -- again, I think symptom screening will work well. And the initial symptoms are, you know, typically a flu-like illness, which

is not very specific. I'm sure everyone on board has been interviewed for any symptoms.

[14:20:00]

And if anyone has those early symptoms, then they need to be evacuated right away because they've got a good chance of going on to developing the

very severe pulmonary syndrome, which is associated with this virus.

So, hopefully, those two symptomatic people on board now are getting medically evacuated as soon as possible.

FOSTER: Yes, Dr. Michael Baker, really appreciate your expertise on that. Fascinating. And our thoughts of everyone obviously on board in hospital.

Well, still to come tonight --

BAKER: Thank you --

FOSTER: New Intel suggesting the Kremlin is tightening security around President Vladimir Putin as Moscow prepares for its annual World War II

victory parade.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

FOSTER: In Moscow, a drone has hit a high-rise building in the center of the Russian capital. The strike comes just days before Russia's victory day

parade, marking the end of World War II. Ukraine hasn't commented publicly on the strike.

The attack occurred in an area close to several foreign embassies. No injuries were reported. Russians can expect tight internet restrictions in

Moscow ahead of that annual victory day parade. Tech operators have warned customers there could be limited in their mobile internet access and text

messaging during events Tuesday through to Saturday.

The precautions come as a new European Intelligence report points to a dramatic increase in personal security around Russian President Vladimir

Putin. Nick Paton Walsh reports.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

NICK PATON WALSH, CNN INTERNATIONAL SECURITY CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It is a rare, pointed insight into one of the starkest secrets in Russia,

President Vladimir Putin's security protocols, and it's a detailed Intelligence report given to CNN by a source close to a European

Intelligence agency portrays, predictably, a Kremlin in deep crisis.

Cooks, bodyguards and photographers working with Putin must have surveillance systems installed in their homes, it says. Putin has stopped

visiting military sites this year entirely, it says, in contrast to last year, often spending time in fortified bunkers and keeping clear of some of

his main lavish residences like Valday, a tactic aided by many of his appearances.

And he is in the media a lot, being prerecorded. His staff cannot use smartphones or public transport, the report adds. Visitors must be searched

twice.

(On camera): Not all of this information is new, some of it rumored or evident before, but the mass of detail is striking, as is the decision by a

European Intelligence agency to release a report like this.

[14:25:00]

Clearly, an information salvo designed to stoke strife and paranoia at a time of perceived weakness in the Kremlin.

(Voice-over): The dossier also suggests something staggering, that the measures may be designed to protect Putin from a potential coup, something

he had a narrow miss with in June 2023 when mercenary boss and former chef to Putin, Yevgeny Prigozhin, led a failed march on Moscow.

YEVGENY PRIGOZHIN, LATE FORMER RUSSIAN MERCENARY LEADER: (SPEAKING IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE)

WALSH: The risk of a coup, it says now, is from another former confidant, Sergei Shoigu, once his Minister of Defense, but now Secretary of the

Security Council. He retains significant influence within the military high command, it says.

The report says a coup is more likely after Shoigu's former deputy and close associate Ruslan Salikhov(ph), was arrested in March, which it calls,

quote, "a breach of the tacit protection agreements among elites."

But the report doesn't provide any evidence or explain why it has made this risk public, warning the Kremlin. It claims the new security measures came

after a series of assassinations among the Russian top brass, likely by Ukraine.

At an urgent meeting last year after the killing of Lieutenant General Fanil Sarvarov in Moscow on December the 22nd.

(ARTILLERY FIRE)

WALSH: The release of the report has convenient timing four years into Russia's invasion of Ukraine, at a time when doubts about Russia's ability

to sustain its war effort and its economic impact are growing of major internet blackouts, growing internal criticism of Putin himself and

continued successful Ukrainian bombardment of targets deep inside Russia.

Especially ahead of the May the 9th victory day parade, scaled back dramatically this year for security. There are plenty of reasons European

Intelligence would seek to destabilize the Kremlin, and much of this is hard to corroborate.

But it is rare detail and a confident presentation of a Kremlin in crisis that matches a moment of peaking criticism, of Putin internally. Nick Paton

Walsh, CNN, London.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

FOSTER: U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is expected to meet with Pope Leo in Rome this week. It follows plenty of tension between the pontiff and

the Trump administration over the war in Iran and immigration.

The pope may have added fuel to the fire this week with the appointment of a new Bishop who entered the U.S. illegally decades ago. Here's Christopher

Lamb with more.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CHRISTOPHER LAMB, CNN VATICAN CORRESPONDENT (on camera): It does send a message about Pope Leo's concern with the treatment of immigrants in the

United States. He has said that he believes that treatment has been inhumane at times.

And I think, you know, the important thing here is that the appointment of Bishops is the surest way that a pope can influence both the leadership of

the church in the United States and, of course, globally.

And also, how that church engages with politics. Of course, the pope appoints Bishops personally. And so, Leo's decision to appoint Bishop

Evello does send a message, and so does his early appointments to dioceses in the U.S.

Because three of the four of the first appointments Pope Leo made to leadership positions in the U.S. were priests who were not born in the

U.S., they came as immigrants. I'm thinking of Bishop Pham in San Diego, who is from Vietnam, who entered as a teenager to the United States.

So, I think what Pope Leo is saying here is that new arrivals to a country, when integrated and welcomed, can make a very positive contribution. And

he's showing that with these appointments of Bishops who come from immigrant backgrounds.

So, I think there is a clear message being sent here. And of course, it does come within, you know, this tense relationship between President

Trump, the Trump administration and Pope Leo. We saw the extraordinary attacks on the pope by President Trump at the beginning -- sorry, the

middle of last month.

And we hear that, Marco Rubio; Secretary of State, is coming to Rome and will be meeting with Cardinal Parolin, the top Vatican diplomat, and with

Pope Leo. So, there is obviously also an attempt here to try and mend some diplomatic fences.

But no doubt these appointments of Bishops by Pope Leo, sending a strong message about what he sees as the treatment of immigrants needing to

change in the United States. And he wants Bishops who can speak out.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

FOSTER: Still to come tonight, a United Airlines flight narrowly avoids disaster whilst landing. We'll take a look at the investigation now

underway.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[14:33:00]

FOSTER: Let's reset then on our top story this hour. The ceasefire in the Persian Gulf showing serious cracks right now. U.S. President Trump has

warned Iranian forces they'll be blown off the face of the earth if they attempt to target U.S. ships. Iran has launched airstrikes at several

targets around the Gulf in recent hours, and the U.S. military says it blew up several small Iranian boats. All of this comes as the U.S. began an

operation to protect commercial ships as they travel through the Strait of Hormuz.

Let's bring in CNN National Security Correspondent Natasha Bertrand with more. Both sides here, Natasha, accusing the other of not telling the

truth, let's say. What are you hearing from your side?

NATASHA BERTRAND, CNN NATIONAL SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: Well, Admiral Bradley Cooper, who is the head of U.S. Central Command, he did a call with

reporters earlier today and he said that the U.S. military mission right now is defensive in nature.

He said that the huge military presence that they have built up near the straits, which involves guided missile destroyers, over 100 land and sea-

based aircraft, unmanned platforms like Reaper drones, for example, and over 15,000 service members, that all of that is meant to help make

commercial shippers feel secure when they are trying to find a passageway to cross the straits, because right now, the U.S. military has told them

that there is essentially one path out of the strait that they believe is safe. And if the Iranians try to attack any of these vessels, then the U.S.

military now has the ability to strike back at those Iranian military assets that are carrying out these attacks. And that is exactly what

happened this morning.

According to Cooper, the Iranians launched cruise missiles, drones, as well as these small boats, of which they have hundreds still, at some of these

U.S. Navy warships, as well as at these commercial vessels that were trying to cross that passageway. As a result, the U.S. military then blew up six

of these small boats. And the U.S. says, look, we're not going to comment at this point about whether this constitutes a breakdown of the ceasefire

because we believe that we are acting defensively, and the Iranians are the ones that are preemptively attacking these ships trying to cross the

strait.

[14:35:00]

But at the same time, the Iranians are saying, well, your mere presence there constitutes a violation of the ceasefire. So, important to note that

the U.S. military is not actively escorting these ships through the strait. They are not going one by one and helping them get out. They are simply

providing a big presence there and telling the Iranians, look, if you try anything, we are poised to respond, Max.

FOSTER: OK. Natasha, thank you. The renewed attacks in the Gulf have traders on Wall Street heading for the exit. So, let's have a look at the

big board. As you can see, it's off more than 1 percent today. We'll keep an eye on it for you, but clearly geopolitical factors playing in heavily

to what investors are trading right now.

But now we're going to go to a terrifying moment for a United Airlines flight. And it happened when the flight was arriving from Venice, Italy.

That's when cameras captured the Boeing 767 striking a light pole on its final approach. No one on board was hurt, thankfully. That's according to

United. The truck driver recovering from non-life-threatening injuries. The National Transportation Safety Board says it's now classifying the incident

as an accident.

Pete Muntean takes a closer look at the investigation that's now underway.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

PETE MUNTEAN, CNN AVIATION CORRESPONDENT: This is going to be a very interesting one for investigators. So, far, I can't find a case in recent

memory where a U.S. commercial flight has hit something on a highway below it.

Here are the circumstances. United Flight 169 arriving from Venice, Italy coming into land on Newark's Runway 29. That is Newark's shortest runway,

which was favorable yesterday due to the strong winds out of the west. The approach path to that runway goes right over about 12 lanes of Interstate

95 and the New Jersey Turnpike. And I want to show you the still frame of what appears to be the left wheel of that 767 out of the window of the

bread truck that was damaged. Clearly a case of too low on the approach path.

But now the question is why? Usually, pilots landing here follow guidance from their instruments down to about 400 feet or so and then continue

solely by looking out the windshield. That's called a visual approach at that point. But they're cautioned by way of published landing procedures

that there are obstacles in the way, that there is not much tolerance to be low.

I want you to listen now to the air traffic control audio here in which the tower describes that the airplane was also damaged. Listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Did you get the reports for what the issue was?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I got different conflictions on the turnpike.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, they felt something over the threshold and there's a hole in the side of the airplane. So, I'm going to get you on the runway

here in a moment. They said it was right at the threshold. So, it'll just be a minute.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MUNTEAN: The data we'll be telling here right now, we only have the open- source data, which shows the plane over the highway at about 125 feet doing about 160 miles per hour. That's the rough data. What investigators will

want to look at is the flight data recorder to get better information. Also, the voice recorder. Did the pilots realize they were too low? And was

there a discussion about the risks posed by obstacles in the highway? The NTSB says it arrives on the scene on Monday and says it wants to interview

the pilots.

Pete Muntean, CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

FOSTER: Thousands of Spirit Airline travelers are now trying to find alternatives for their trips. The airline completely shut down all global

operations over the weekend. It had been struggling through a second bankruptcy filing and failed to get a government bailout. Passengers in the

middle of a trip must now rebook on other airlines with special rescue fares being offered. Passengers who bought with credit or debit cards will

be refunded. Those who booked through a travel agent will need to contact that agent directly.

We are six months out from the U.S. midterm elections. New polling suggests U.S. President Donald Trump and Republicans are in the hot seat right now.

A CNN poll of polls shows nearly two-thirds of Americans disapprove of President Trump's performance, 35 percent approve. And a Washington Post-

ABC poll shows only 34 percent of Americans approve of his handling of the U.S. economy.

Well, President Trump is a little more than a year into his second term, though his approval ratings are night and day compared to the 2024

presidential election. CNN's Harry Enten breaks it down.

HARRY ENTEN, CNN CHIEF DATA ANALYST: Hey there, Max. Look, we've got some new polling out over the past few days, and it all points in the same

direction. The Trump presidency and Donald Trump himself, well, he's in tough straits. You see, I like a little bit of a play on words here.

Look, when we look at the latest poll, for example, from the ABC News Washington Post survey, you can see it really quite clearly here. We're

talking about record low levels for the president of the United States, the lowest net approvals for Trump. You look in August. This was August of 2018

during term one. This was the prior record low for Trump, according to that particular poll, he was 24 points underwater. That is 24 percentage points

more of the electorate disapproved than approved.

[14:40:00]

Now, he has broken that record. He is now 25 points underwater, deep underwater, swimming with the fishes. What is driving this, though? What is

driving this? Well, a key reason that Trump is in so much trouble right now, Max, it's really simple. It is a group that has traditionally been

with him, and that is Republican-leaning independents. That is, independents who say they traditionally lean towards the Republican Party.

Back in the 2024 election versus Kamala Harris, Donald Trump got, get this, 91 percent, 91 percent of their vote, nearly uniform, nearly uniformity

with the president, the now president of the United States. But look at where he is now. Way down. Look at this. His job approval rating, according

to the average of the Pew Research Center and ABC News Washington Post polls, 53 percent, barely a majority. We're talking about, get this, a 38-

point shift in just only about a year and a half's time. GOP-leaning independents moving away from the president of the United States.

But it's not just groups, Max Foster. It's not just groups that are moving away from the president of the United States. It's on issues. People are

abandoning him as well. And of course, the number one issue in poll after poll after poll is the cost of living, the cost-of-living inflation. It's

what got Trump that second term, but now it is an anchor on him.

Because take a look here. Trump and inflation. OK. Americans on Trump and inflation. In October of 2024, according to an ABC News/Ipsos poll, Trump

was more trusted than Kamala Harris by seven points on the key issue of inflation. But look at his net approval rating now on this issue. He is,

get this, 45 points underwater. That is an over 50-point shift away from the president of the United States in, again, just a year and a half's

worth of time. When you're struggling this much on the top issue of the day, it is no wonder, Max, that you are seeing record low ratings for the

president of the United States.

But my belief, Max, is your approval rating in my book is always at a record high. Back to you.

FOSTER: I can't argue with Harry Enten on that. The great Harry Enten. Now, former New York mayor and Trump attorney Rudy Giuliani was seriously now

hospitalized. He's in critical but stable condition, Giuliani's spokesperson says, the 81-year-old recovering from pneumonia and is now

breathing on his own. He was dubbed America's mayor after the 9/11 terror attacks, but more recently, Giuliani experienced a fall from grace and is

being disbarred from practicing law in New York and Washington following his attempts to try to overturn the 2020 presidential election.

Still to come tonight, South Korea is leaving the charge in all things pop culture, from K-pop music and films to kimchi and skin care. Actor and

producer Daniel Dae Kim finds out why.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[14:45:00]

FOSTER: This week, we are going inside the world of K-pop for you as part of the CNN original series "K-Everything." Actor and producer Daniel Dae

Kim finds out how South Korea has come to dominate all things pop culture, starting with the explosive rise of Korean music. He met with the members

of AllDay Project in Seoul, and the band debuted just last year and already has a devoted fan base.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Wait. This is so cool.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Are you all right?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: How are you?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Good. I'm good.

DANIEL DAE KIM, ACTOR AND PRODUCER: I'm just looking at all of your merch.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's our first time doing this, too.

KIM: Is that right?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes. So, this is Tarzan. This is Bailey.

KIM: So, are these, like, boxers are, like, sewn in?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's connected.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Basically, Tarzan is a boxer. So, this is Tarzan's, like, signature style to leo pants.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I hate to interrupt.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That's cool.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Wait, that's really cool.

KIM: It's a big day for the five members of AllDay Project. They're releasing an EP, their first. Six new tracks. That means more marketing,

media, and a whole lot of new merch.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): If you've been doing well, let me hear some noise.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (through translator): I'm still nervous because I don't know how you'll react.

KIM: This is a special private listening party for a few lucky fans before the EP officially drops. In Korea, they call this a comeback. No matter

when a group's last music was released.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (through translator): It's a fan song.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: When we see them at fan signs, then -- like people who come frequently to these events, we obviously recognize them. It's just

comforting to see familiar faces.

KIM: Like Stacy. All right. You came with a bunch of signs that you wrote for them, which they read.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes. I know. I know. That's crazy.

KIM: That's exciting, right?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes. They make my day.

KIM: Yes?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes. I'm so in love with them. I listen to their music like for 4,000 times every day.

KIM: I don't think I've ever been obsessed with a band like this. The thing it reminds me of is Beatlemania. These clean-cut boys from England and

there was a lot of teenagers cheering for them. There's a lot of cynicism in the world today. There are a lot of things that are a little darker.

There's nothing wrong with the brightness and the innocence of like a teenager just loving music and loving musicians who make it.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

FOSTER: Well, you can stream the full series on CNN All Access and HBO Max this Saturday on May the 9th.

Still to come tonight. Is it real or is it A.I.? The Oscars weigh in on the use of artificial intelligence in making movies.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[14:50:00]

FOSTER: Designers and celebrities getting ready for one of the fashion world's biggest nights tonight. The Met Gala returns to New York City in

just a few hours. There's the boss. The annual glitzy fundraiser often attracts the year's boldest, bravest, the most dazzling looks, of course.

And this evening's dress code, fashion is art, no doubt, flinging the door open to all manner of playful and dramatic interpretations from the 450 or

so attendees, most of whom are really stars. We'll bring you the pictures, of course.

Tech billionaires are also getting in on the act, though. This year's party may be the most controversial yet. All eyes are on Amazon co-founder Jeff

Bezos and his wife, Lauren Sanchez Bezos, who are the main benefactors, and they are honorary chairs. Skipping the event in New York City is Mayor

Zohran Mamdani, who campaigned on income inequality, breaking a decades- long tradition of New York's mayors attending the gala.

Now, the Oscars are taking a stand against A.I. in movies, meanwhile. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences says A.I.-generated actors and

scripts will not be eligible for Academy Awards. This comes as the industry wrestles with how A.I. will impact the future of movies. A film is being

made right now featuring an A.I.-generated version of the late actor Val Kilmer. The Academy did not completely rule out A.I. in other parts of

filmmaking. It did not weigh in on the use of A.I. for visual effects, for example, or music.

Clare Duffy joins us from New York. I mean, there is going to be more AI, isn't there, in every part of the movie industry moving forward? But, you

know, the Academy, interestingly, making this very clear mark.

CLARE DUFFY, CNN TECH REPORTER: Yes, Max, I think the Academy is trying to get out ahead here as we are seeing more in and around Hollywood, people

experimenting with how A.I. can be used in films and other types of storytelling. I think they are really trying to give a sense of where their

line is between human creativity and A.I.-generated content.

Now, interestingly, in these rules' changes, they did say that generative A.I. will neither help nor harm the chances of achieving a nomination,

except for in those two areas that you mentioned, and I'll read you those rules. They say in the acting category, only roles demonstrably performed

by humans with their consent will be considered eligible. And in the writing categories, screenplays must be human-authored to be eligible.

But I do think that we will start to see some of these edge cases that the Academy is going to have to navigate. You mentioned the film where an A.I.

replica of Val Kilmer is playing a part. Val Kilmer did agree to participate in that film prior to his death, but the role is being played

by A.I. So, that may be the kind of tricky call that the Academy has to deal with.

I've also spoken with screenplay writers who use A.I. as a sort of writing partner to bounce off ideas. Where do you decide, then, where the line is

between the human writing and the A.I.'s contribution? So, I think this is going to be an ongoing project for the Academy to try to decide how to deal

with these A.I. contributions to films, but I think they're trying to give folks a sense of where the line is.

And you have to imagine that there are some instances, like the A.I. actor Tilly Norwood, who we've talked a lot about, she will not be eligible for

an Oscar, at least next year, Max.

FOSTER: Maybe in future. She'll age well, we know that, don't we? Clare, thank you so much.

Finally, this hour, Buckingham Palace announcing a new bundle of joy on the way for the Royal Family. Princess Eugenie, the daughter of the former

Prince Andrew, of course, expecting her third child with husband Jack Brooksbank there.

[14:55:00]

Well, during the summer, the new edition will play younger sibling to the couple's two young boys. You can see there, just about. King Charles, who

will be the baby's great-uncle, is quite delighted with the news. And it's interesting to see how Buckingham Palace is speaking for Eugenie on this

occasion, and making it clear that the Royal Family is a separate matter.

Thanks for watching tonight. Stay with CNN. I'll have more with "What We Know" after the break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[15:00:00]

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