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CNN Live Today

Flight Diverted to Italy Upon Discovery of Threat Note; A Look at the Background of John Mark Karr

Aired August 18, 2006 - 10:30   ET

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

DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Let's get an update on a few stories we're following right now. First, Fred, the British passenger plane.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, an unscheduled landing for a British passenger plane in Southern Italy. The plane that had left Gatwick in London was en route to Egypt when something happened on board, inspiring the pilot to make this landing there in Southern Italy. And now police are on the scene there, the plane has been evacuated. All passengers are now off the plane. Police are investigating whether there is any credence to the initial report of a bomb scare on board.

And then, Daryn, here stateside in Florida, just north of Tampa, you're looking at the result of a collision between a school bus with 31 kids on board and a passenger vehicle. We're told that nine minor injuries are being reported from that collision. We don't know how it happened, but we do know that it happened just outside an elementary school there in Spring Hill, Florida -- Daryn.

KAGAN: All right, Fred, thank you.

Back to the JonBenet Ramsey case. Here is what we know right here at the half hour. More questions about the stunning admissions by suspect John Mark Karr. Autopsy information appears to contradict some of Karr's statements. Karr's brother tells an Atlanta TV station the family will provide information today, information showing the allegations against him they say are ridiculous. And the "Rocky Mountain News" says it has portions of the e-mail between Karr and a Colorado professor. One included a poem by Karr which is entitled "JonBenet, My Love."

In 2000 and 2001, John Karr worked at an elementary school in Petaluma, California, and was arrested on child pornography charges.

CNN's Dan Simon has been digging into Karr's background.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DAN SIMON, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Controlling and child obsessed, just a few of the accusations leveled at John Karr by his former wife, a woman he married 17 years ago when she was 16, he was 24.

CNN obtained these court documents from their 2001 divorce. In a sworn declaration, Karr's wife Lara said he was booted from a substitute teaching job in the late 90s. The reason, she claims one school told him, quote, "He has a tendency to be too affectionate with children."

That didn't stop Karr from getting another substitute teaching job a few years later, here in Northern California.

SIMON (on camera): So, everything checked out on this guy?

CARL WONG, SUPERINTENDENT, SONOMA CO. SCHOOLS: Absolutely.

SIMON (voice-over): Charles Wong was the head of one of the school districts where Karr occasionally filled in for absent teachers, and says he saw no reason to raise a red flag.

WONG: No one goes into a classroom, comes on a campus, until they've been cleared on both counts, on the professional qualification credentialing side, background, criminal check, fingerprint. That side has to be cleared.

SIMON: This young Alabama woman, a former girl scout, remembers him when he was her neighbor.

ERIKA SCHOLZ, FORMER NEIGHBOR: He never striked me as anything -- like I wasn't comfortable. He's never, of course -- never invited me into his house, had like coffee or tea or anything, but he was just a great guy.

SIMON: Karr's teaching days in California ended in 2001, when he got arrested for possessing child pornography. Sheriff's deputies busted him for allegedly having pictures of children engaging in sexual conduct on his computer.

Karr pleaded not guilty and was freed on bail, but according to California authorities, he skipped town and never stood trial. He may have fled the country, but Karr's ex-wife obtained a restraining order against him that prevented him from getting within a hundred feet of her and their three sons.

Even so, Karr's ex may be able to provide an alibi. She told a San Francisco television station that they were together in Alabama during the Christmas holidays in 1996, when JonBenet was murdered.

MIKE RAINES, ATTORNEY FOR LARA KARR: She sincerely believes that there was no Christmas -- any time between approximately 1989, when they were married and the year 2000 -- when her husband was not with her and her family at Christmastime. She has no recollection of him ever being away.

SIMON (on camera): The attorney for Karr's ex-wife has instructed his client to dig through the photo albums to see if there are any pictures in 1996 that would show that they were not in Colorado at the time of JonBenet's murder.

Dan Simon, CNN, Petaluma, California.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KAGAN: And you can catch more of Dan's reporting on "PAULA ZAHN NOW," weeknights at 8:00 Eastern.

A milestone in the Middle East. Here is what we know right now. Lebanese troops have reached the southern border with Israel for the first time in decades. The area had been a stronghold for Hezbollah. The troops are part of a U.N.-approved peacekeeping force. The U.N. is urging more countries to step up and contribute troops.

With plans for peace, the grim numbers of war. Lebanese officials now say that more than 1,000 people were killed in the 34- day conflict. Israel puts its death toll at 159.

CNN's Anthony Mills is in the Lebanese capital. He's in Beirut today and tells us the latest from there.

Anthony, hello.

ANTHONY MILLS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello there, Daryn.

The deployment of the Lebanese army forces has been progressing rapidly now. Thousands of those troops have gone beyond the Litani River into the south of the country, where they're going to be taking over that territory from Hezbollah, in conjunction with an international United Nations force.

Other Lebanese troops have been landing at the port city of Tyre, in the south of the country, and they have been greeted by Lebanese, jubilant at the arrival of these Lebanese forces, with the apparent belief that they are bringing stability. That's a region that has seen a lot of violence, not just in the course of this conflict, but also for a number of years since Israel withdrew in May 2000.

However, the scenes down there are not only scenes of jubilation. At the same time in Qana, a funeral, a mass funeral. We've been seeing pictures here. We see pictures of that funeral in Qana. Twenty-nine people were killed in this conflict when an Israeli airstrike hit a building housing refugees. A number of children among the dead. So on this day when there is jubilation in the south at the arrival of those Lebanese army troops, there is also grief. People still dealing -- still trying to overcome the death of loved ones in the course of this conflict.

KAGAN: Anthony Mills, live from Beirut, thank you.

And now I want to go back to our breaking news story about this British passenger plane that was making its way from the U.K. to Egypt, but was diverted and had to land in Southern Italy.

Fred has the latest on that.

WHITFIELD: Right, and Daryn, we're now learning that the Air Force, the Italian Air Force, sent an F-16 to intercept that 767 British passenger plane, which was en route from London. It was on its way to Egypt, but instead there was a forced landing that had to take place there in Southern Italy, in Brindisi. Once the plane was on the ground, all the passengers were evacuated. The plane was met with Italian police there. They are investigating initial reports that there was a bomb scare onboard. Interviews are being conducted obviously with the pilots and the crew onboard. We're not hearing anything, however, about the condition of the passengers, or whether anyone has been taken into custody, but they're still investigating whether there's any credence to this bomb scare onboard.

But obviously serious enough to force this plane to be diverted to Southern Italy as it was on its way to Egypt to make that landing take place, and have all the authorities there to meet that plane when it was able to get on the ground -- Daryn.

KAGAN: And, Fred, while you were giving us the latest there able to hear what is happening on the international desk. And they're saying the very latest is apparently very early details about what the disturbance was, that there was some kind of disturbing note that was passed from passenger to passenger through the cabin up to the pilot, and that that note clearly had some kind of information that disturbed the pilot and caused him to go ahead and land there in Southern Italy.

WHITFIELD: Well, certainly some quick thinking taking place there. And by the way, this plane, this British passenger plane, is part of like a low-cost airline fleet that people take. It is called Excel. This plane started out at Gatwick London Airport. And of course when we get any more information about all the passengers who may have been onboard and what you're telling us now, Daryn, about the note being passed onboard, and investigating whether there was anything to that and anything seriously to glean from what took place there today.

KAGAN: Well, and, I mean, let's talk about the week that this happened.

Yes. With the news coming out of the U.K. and alleged airline plot about flights that were going to be coming from the U.K. here to the U.S. and people having to give up their liquids, and then just even what we saw happen here on Wednesday, with the plane that was diverted. Yes, the plane that was supposed to go from London to Washington, D.C.

WHITFIELD: And especially in the U.K., where restrictions on screening have been heightened. They are a lot more strict there than anywhere else, even though those planes that we're talking about, where there was a spoiled attempt, those planes were on the way from London on the way to the States.

Well, British authorities have not reduced or in any way kind of relaxed at all on their security measures. They're still at its highest ever, and so everyone, every airplane going in and out of the U.K. are being watched very seriously. And so if there was indeed this note that was passed around, whether it be very benign or otherwise, these authorities are taking it very seriously there throughout Europe.

KAGAN: Now when you say Southern Italy, as we look at the map, Brindisi, the heel of the boot. Doesn't get more southern than that. That was probably the last chance to land in Italy. If that was of any significance or air-traffic controllers just decided, you know what, we need to get this thing down, we need to get it down quickly. You were saying that the air force had an f-16 escorting the plane?

WHITFIELD: Right, the Italian air force sent an f-16. We understand it to be one F-16 that escorted this plane and forced this unscheduled landing. The landing did of course take place, as far as we know, successfully. We're not hearing of any kind of reported injuries to any of the persons onboard that plane. And of course the authorities met that plane, evacuated that plane. We still don't know how many passengers were on. But it was a 767, so a rather sizable passenger jet plane.

KAGAN: We have our Rome bureau chief, Rome bureau correspondent Alessio Vinci. He's on the phone, and he can tell us more about what he knows -- Alessio.

ALESSIO VINCI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi.

Well, what we do know is what Italian agencies and television reports. That is that this the Boeing 767 of the low-cost carrier Excel was en route from London Gatwick Airport to Huhrgada in Egypt -- that's a resort in Egypt -- when the pilot made a request for an emergency landing at the Brindisi Airport. That's a fairly large town in southeastern Italy, apparently because of a suspected bomb onboard.

We do understand the plane is currently on the tarmac, and that all passengers have already deplaned, and that the necessary and obligatory security checks are under way. There are some reports that a note was found written in the back of one of the sickness bags that was passed through the cabin on to the pilot. That note apparently saying that there was a bomb onboard. The pilot at this point making the decision to land at the nearest airport. That airport, again, in Brindisi in southeastern Italy.

We do understand, of course, that the Italian Air Force was immediately mobilized. We understand that at least one air force, perhaps two Air Force jets were sent to intercept the plane. We do not know whether indeed those jets did intercept the plane before it landed at the Brindisi Airport.

But what we do know is that the plane is now on the ground. There are no longer passengers or crew members onboard of the plane. But this plane has now been searched, or at least the personnel in charge of searching will certainly momentarily begin going through the plane to make sure that there is no bomb onboard.

KAGAN: Do you know if anybody is in custody at this time, Alessio?

VINCI: No, we don't have that report at this time. All we know is that this note was found, according to Italian news agencies, and that all the passengers have been taken off the plane. There are no reports of arrests, and there are no other reports regarding whether this is indeed a hoax, or whether in fact that there was some kind of a explosive device or something that could have threatened the safety of the passengers onboard was found.

KAGAN: What more can you tell us about this town of Brindisi?

VINCI: Well, it's a fairly large town in the southern tip of Italy. We do know that all airports in Italy are part of a wider upgraded, if you want, security, operation over the past few days, especially since the failed plot in London. The Italian interior minister a few days ago said that the Italians remained -- the Italian officials in charge of security, not just at airports, but all sensitive places in this country are keeping an eye and remain vigilant. One would imagine that the Brindisi, being a fairly large town in Southern Italy, is equipped with the kind of security and first-aid personnel that is required of these kind of airports in case should an emergency arise. I am not familiar with the kind of anti- terrorism squad that would be ready available at the airport itself. The largest city near Brindisi is Barey (ph), the capital of the region there. We imagine that that -- those forces would be deployed momentarily, but certainly what we do understand is that people in charge of the antiterrorism squad, and people in charge of this kind of emergencies are being mobilized and are already making the necessary checks in order to make sure that the plane is safe.

KAGAN: Alessio, stay with me here a second. I just want to recap for people who are just joining us. We're following a story out of the U.K., and Italy and Egypt. An Excel Airways Boeing 767 requested an emergency landing today. It was going from London to Egypt, but somebody passed a note forward on a sick bag, saying that there could be a bomb onboard.

So the pilot made the decision to land the plane there in Brindisi, in the southern part of Italy.

Alessio, what is the mood? You were talking about this a little bit. But if you could expand on this. The mood has been in Italy with airports and with travel? Over this last week we have followed of course quite a bit out of what was happening in the U.K. and then here in the U.S., but has Italy been on high alert as well?

VINCI: Yes, just like any other European country, they have been on alert. I have actually taken several planes over the last few days since the failed plot in London, and I can tell you that security remains extremely high at all airports in Italy, not just international airports here in Rome and in Milan, but at all airports. It does take longer to go through security checks, even at regional airports. I was in a town not many days ago and there, too, the security checks are far more thorough and takes a longer time to go through the security checks.

So there is definitely a sense that there is a risk. There is definitely a sense here among passengers that the failed plot in London.

But ever since 9/11, there is always the possibility of these kind of incidents taking place. And I think that most of the passengers and most of the people that I have traveled with or talked to certainly welcome these additional security measures, and indeed if this incident here at Brindisi will turn out to be a hoax, then certainly that will at least give an indication of how serious the authorities, not just in this country, have to take these kind of threats, because obviously the fact that a bomb could be found in a plane leaves the pilot with no other choice, other than asking an emergency landing, and that is exactly what happened in Brindisi earlier today.

KAGAN: Well, and I imagine that the air travel between the U.K. and Italy, like much of Europe, has been inconvenienced over the last week, because the first thing we saw was not necessarily the trips from the U.K. to the U.S. that were canceled, but the short haul trips, between England and the continent.

VINCI: That is correct.

KAGAN: Those are the things that got canceled.

VINCI: That is correct. And as a matter of fact, I was talking to several businessmen not too long ago who travel regularly between Italy and the U.K., and I've been told that companies in the U.K. and in Italy have, indeed, decided to put on hold non-essential business travel simply because it does take so long to go through security. That these kind of incidents and you know makes it -- it takes too long to go from one country to the other, and many businessmen decide that it's not worth the risk, perhaps, of losing a client simply because, for example, your computer could not be brought on board. And if have to check in your computer, it takes too long to get it back. And then, eventually -- you know.

So there is obviously -- we do see there is, at least in travel between -- that I've seen between Italy and the UK, there is an increased discomfort, if you want, for the passenger. That said, with all the people that I spoke with, again, there is a sense that these kind of checks and these kind of precautions are necessary because people do -- must feel that traveling on the plane -- must be safe.

And if this requires extra checks, if this requires not being able to, for example, bring a computer on board -- although it is no longer the case between the flights between the Italy and the U.K., and I do understand also between the U.K. and the U.S. Certainly, the people who are the subject of these searches welcome the fact that extra security is in place.

And I think that the passengers who were on their way from the U.K. to the resort town of Hurghada in Egypt, at the end of the day, if this indeed was a hoax, possibly would welcome the fact that the plane could safely land in Brindisi, that all necessary checks could be done, and eventually then continue on to their final destination.

KAGAN: Well, let's talk about this part of the report that an Italian Air Force jet was accompanying the plane as it landed there in Southern Italy. Have you seen that happen a lot more recently?

VINCI: Well, we do know, of course, that part of the security measures in place involve the Italian Air Force intercepting any kind of suspected aircraft. What I do not know at this time is whether or not this jet, or these jets, have indeed intercepted the plane before it made the emergency landing in Brindisi. I do know, from the Italian news agency here, that these jets have been scrambled and have been sent to intercept the plane. I do not know whether, indeed, the plane was intercepted before it made a landing or not.

But this is part, of course, of the security measures that are under way, and even at a height of the summer season here, the Italian Air Force has pilot and has personnel at the (INAUDIBLE) should these kind of emergencies arrive.

KAGAN: Alessio, I'm just seeing this on the wires from Reuters. They are reporting that British -- British -- actually, Italian police have called off this alert over this possible bomb scare on this plane. They say that there was, indeed, a note but it's been called off because it was just a matter of the note, and checks are still under way. So that would appear to say that this one at least partially resolved.

VINCI: It does appear. And to be honest with you, you know, with experience, serious terrorist attacks over the last few years, I do not recall any terrorist writing on the back of a sick bag his intentions to blow up the plane and pass the note across the cabin. This certainly appears to be a hoax, although obviously, all the necessary checks have to be made. And I think that the pilot, once he received this note, had no other choice but to land the plane safely.

KAGAN: All right, once again, OK, Alessio, thank you.

So once again, it would appear that this situation with this passenger jet in Italy and Southern Italy has been resolved. It was a plane that was making its way from London to Egypt. Somebody wrote on a sick bag that there was a bomb on board, and the pilot made the decision to land the plane in Southern Italy. But now Italian police have decided that's all it was. It was just a note on the back of a sick bag.

We'll continue to follow that story as more becomes available.

Also ahead, we're going to look at a confession, but many unanswered questions remaining in the Ramsey case.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Why did the killer use a broken paintbrush from Patsy's hobby kit to twist a cord around JonBenet's neck? Why did no phone call ever come for this supposed ransom before the body was found?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KAGAN: Tom Foreman examines the lingering mysteries in the case. That's straight ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAGAN: Let's get back to this passenger jet situation. The plane going from London -- actually going from London to Egypt. Had to be diverted, and landed in Italy. It does appear to be resolved.

But with the latest, let's go to Richard Quest. He is on the phone from London. Richard, hello.

RICHARD QUEST, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, hello. The latest that we...

KAGAN: You're live, sorry.

QUEST: Hello, yes. The latest that we understand that happened was that this flight was on its way from London Gatwick, which is London's second airport, on its way down to Egypt -- it was a charter flight full of holiday makers, people going on vacation -- when a note was found, in all places, written on the sick bag, the vomit bag that is in the back of the seat back pocket. This was passed amongst the passengers. It was then passed on to the cabin crew, who gave it to the captain, who then decided to land the plane in Brindisi, which is in Italy. The plane was escorted to its landing and thereby, the plane was evacuated.

Now what we don't know -- and this is crucial, of course -- is how long that note had been there. But a picture, Daryn, is building up of in every one of these cases where there is any security possibility of risk, pilots are deciding to land, planes are being evacuated and security checks are being carried out. At the moment, though, there is no suggestion that anything has been found on this aircraft.

KAGAN: They're just doing everything they must in this current environment, I would imagine.

QUEST: Absolutely. It's best to be safe than sorry. I mean, let's face it, Daryn. When you land -- during an emergency landing because of a 60-year-old woman having a claustrophobic attack because she had hand cream in her luggage, as happened earlier this week, this gives you an idea of the mindset -- proper mindset, I believe -- in aviation at the moment.

KAGAN: Yes, and just to match that, people understand. Do what you got to do.

QUEST: I think people do understand that, and that's what we're seeing this afternoon on this basically holiday -- I mean, of all the planes to want to try and divert, this was a charter flight full of holiday makers from London to Egypt.

KAGAN: Right. Seems rather silly. All right, Richard Quest in London, thank you for the latest on that.

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