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American Morning

Parents of Spy Plane Crew Member Anticipate His Return

Aired April 12, 2001 - 11:19   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.
LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: Military officials are crediting pilot Shane Osborn with bringing the U.S. spy plane under control after that midair collision and making an emergency landing on China's Hainan Island.

Joining us now from Norfolk, Nebraska, CNN's Jeff Flock. And Jeff is with the parents of Shane Osborn -- Jeff.

JEFF FLOCK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Leon, just very fortunate to be with the parents of Shane Osborn this morning. They're so kind to let us come in and share these moments with them.

Diane Osborn, you talked to your son for an hour last night. Give me the headline on that call.

DIANE OSBORN, MOTHER OF SHANE OSBORN: Oh, it was just great to talk to him and to hear him. He sounded so much better than he did the first time that we talked. He was just happy to be out of the situation and on American soil.

He talked about getting to shower and getting to get some good food and some news from the outside. He was just real pleased to be on his way back home. He talked to his girlfriend. We were on a three-way call. And he had no idea that we were getting kind of bombarded by all of you. And...

FLOCK: He's got it easier than you do.

DIANE OSBORN: He couldn't believe. I told him he was a hero. And he said, "No, I'm really just doing my job, mom.:

FLOCK: I know, Doug, we talked about that last night because a lot of people say your son is a hero.

DOUG OSBORN, FATHER OF SHANE OSBORN: Yeah, a lot of people do. But like I said last night, Shane has always been -- we've always been proud of him. We've always thought that he was a hero in our eyes anyway.

But, again, I've got to say it. It took 23 other people doing their job exactly right. They had to be right on time in doing everything they did to allow Shane to do what he had to do. And there's 24 heroes out there, as far as I'm concerned. And we're very proud that our son is one of them. FLOCK: Did he give you any insight, Diane, into what took place there either with regard to the mission or when he was in captivity?

DIANE OSBORN: He said that he was kept by himself the majority of the time. And they questioned him a lot. And he couldn't really go into too much of that.

He had asked and was able to receive the Bible in English and some other paperback books. They don't really have television in their rooms like everybody in our resorts and hotels do here. So it got to be pretty long. He didn't get a lot of sleep. He said it was pretty stressful, and he was just glad to be out of there.

FLOCK: I bet. I know you're going to be very glad to get on the road here very soon and head out to the west coast. What's your itinerary there?

DOUG OSBORN: We still have not heard. We are going to leave tomorrow, Friday, for sure. And then we will be out at Whidbey. And we get to see our son Saturday afternoon. That's the only thing that counts. I don't care when I get there just as long as I'm there on time.

FLOCK: Have you got any second thoughts about what he does for living? I know it's not your call. But as a vote, as a mom's vote?

DIANE OSBORN: No. Actually, I don't. The Navy has really trained him well. It's obvious they've done a great job, or he wouldn't be alive to tell us about it. And I'm just real proud of him. And he's always wanted to fly. And this is where he loves to be. And that's where he will be for as long as he decides so.

DOUG OSBORN: He wants to keep doing this.

DIANE OSBORN: Yeah, he does. He was actually very surprised that they were going to give him 30 days off.

(LAUGHTER)

DIANE OSBORN: He was very surprised. He said, "You're kidding. It's not going to count against my leave because I'm going to Sturgis?" I said, "Yeah, I know you're going to Sturgis."

FLOCK: That's the bike thing?

DIANE OSBORN: Yeah, that's the bike thing.

FLOCK: What are your son's long-term goals and aspirations? Do you know?

DOUG OSBORN: Actually, I think they're undecided at this time. Whatever it is, it is going to be flying. And I don't know what -- he's got, I think three-and-a-half, four years left in the Navy before he has to make up his mind.

FLOCK: Had he had thoughts about remaining in the Navy and doing that?

DOUG OSBORN: That's one of the options without a doubt, remaining in the Navy, or I guess you can go beyond that as well. But right now, I don't think he's decided.

FLOCK: Before we get away here, I need to ask you about how this all came down in terms of how the U.S. government handled it, in terms of whether there was an apology or not. Were you at any point worried about how this was going and thinking, "Jeez, we need to just say we're sorry and get out of this?" Or where was your head in that?

DIANE OSBORN: No, I never wanted them to say that they were sorry because I never felt that his crew and he were ever in the wrong. They were in international waters, and they were doing their job. And I never felt that we owed them an apology.

FLOCK: And you echo that, Doug.

DOUG OSBORN: Oh, absolutely. There's no doubt. We didn't want the apology. We were more afraid if they would have apologized I think early. We just wish that they could have been released sooner. We think the Bush administration handled wonderfully. We have all great respect for that, and we are very happy they're home.

FLOCK: Folks, we thank you so much. And I hear you're headed off to church -- correct? -- when you leave us here.

DIANE OSBORN: Right.

FLOCK: And you're going to try and catch a little bit on TV before you leave, yes?

DIANE OSBORN: We would love to see him land in Hawaii. And if he doesn't, we're going to have it taped for sure.

FLOCK: You're going to go give some thanks regardless.

DIANE OSBORN: Absolutely. It's celebration, celebration, absolute celebration.

FLOCK: Thank you so much. Thanks, Diane and Doug. Thank you very much.

We appreciate very much your time and letting us share some of this very happy time with you. And, of course, that will continue as we said on into Saturday, Sunday, and 30 days beyond at least.

That is the latest from Nebraska. Back to you folks.

HARRIS: All right, man. Thanks, Jeff. This is going to be an Easter those folks will never, ever forget. All right, thanks much, Jeff Flock reporting from Norfolk, Nebraska this morning. Appreciate it.

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