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American Morning

Debriefing of Surveillance Plane Crew Continues

Aired April 13, 2001 - 11:03   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.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Let's go ahead and get the latest on the Navy spy plane crew. Debriefing will continue today for the 24 crew members who are now in Hawaii. That's also where we happen to find our Rusty Dornin, who is at Pearl Harbor this morning -- Rusty. Good morning once again.

RUSTY DORNIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Daryn. It's close to dawn here in Hawaii. The crew members will be preparing for a second day of intensive interviews at the Pearl Harbor Naval Air Station.

The first day, the priority was medical examinations. And the initial reports are that they are all in great health, which was as expected. Also, they were all given cell phones, which enabled them during breaks between the interviews and medical exams, they were able to call their family and friends and let them know how they're doing. And they were also given Internet access too as another form of communication.

Press clippings as well. They apparently haven't had time to read too many of them, but were given press clippings of the accounts of their ordeal over the past few weeks and seemed rather surprised over the intense scrutiny of their families, or the concern expressed by the families and that sort of thing.

But this is the second day of interviews. Much has been discovered in terms of -- through the debriefings, according to Pentagon sources, about what actually happened during the collision, that the plane was flying straight, level on autopilot when from under the left wing flew the navy jet fighter, which then collided with propeller.

Now, the investigators will be getting each and every detail of what happened from every crew member, from every angle of what they saw and heard and did that day. Now, there hasn't really been much press availability -- actually, there's been no press availability -- to the crew members since they landed.

Lieutenant Shane Osborn did give a brief statement when he came off the plane. There were a few speeches and that sort of thing. But we are hoping before they leave for Whidbey Naval Air Station tomorrow that a few of the crew members will step forward and give us statements and perhaps answer some questions. And that's not iron clad. But we're kind of hoping that will happen. So another day of interviews, questions, and then they get ready to go to Whidbey Island and meet up with their family and friends, Daryn.

KAGAN: A much-awaited homecoming indeed. Rusty Dornin at Pearl Harbor, thank you -- Leon.

LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: Well, tomorrow the crew does return to their home base in Whidbey Island, Washington, where that homecoming ceremony is planned. Let's go there right now. Our Brian Cabell is standing by -- Brian.

BRIAN CABELL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Leon, big day tomorrow, as you well know, about 10,000 people expected down at Whidbey Island. They're opening up the base. Normally it's closed. But they're inviting the public to come down three hours beforehand, 10,000 people expected down there. Very short ceremony really we're told, only about an hour.

But in the meantime, excitement has been building all week. And we're in the Daily Grind today. That's a big breakfast spot here in town.

With us right now, Dennis Gonsatti (ph). A lot of the Navy employees come down here regularly, don't they?

DENNIS GONSATTI, DAILY GRIND: Right. We get mostly -- a lot of Navy wives come in. We've got a play area for the children. So they like to come down and get together just to get away from the base a little bit and sit and talk.

CABELL: The 24 men and women, do you consider them heroes?

GONSATTI: Oh, definitely, definitely, particularly the pilot. The more we learn about the way he conducted the plane and got it out is just amazing. And he was in the service I guess just a short time. So it's truly wonderful.

CABELL: Over to a table over here to talk to a couple of people. One, you're retired Navy, is that correct?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No. I'm not.

CABELL: What do you do here?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm a paint contractor here on the island.

CABELL: Did the United States learn anything from this incident?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think they have. I think they learned that the Chinese could be hard to deal with and work with. I think that's one of the big lessons they've learned. And maybe they will handle things maybe a little bit differently next time.

CABELL: What about the plane? Does the plane have to come back to the United States? UNIDENTIFIED MALE: think more the principle of the thing, getting the plane back, more than anything. I don't think it has to come back. But I think it's just the principle that it should come back because it's ours.

CABELL: We have a schoolteacher over here. You know one of the 24. Correct?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes, do.

CABELL: Who is that?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Jeff Vignery is an acquaintance of mine from church. And it was a relief yesterday to see him on TV, to know that he's back sound and safe.

CABELL: So it's a very personal thing for you and I guess for the entire community. Why is that? Is it just because the Navy base is here and so you have contact with them regularly?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes, I think it is because it's a Navy community. Being a Navy wife, seeing any squadron come home is an exciting experience. Any homecoming is exciting. But this one is especially good because of the situation.

CABELL: Where is your husband right now?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Right now he's in Turkey doing Operation Northern Watch.

CABELL: Have you talked to him about this incident?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes I have.

CABELL: What does he have to say about it?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: He's excited to see the guys back as well.

CABELL: Have we learned -- has the United States learned anything from this incident, anything about China, anything about relations with China?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I think that definitely -- I think that our country has seen that diplomacy can work. And I think also that it has brought the country together. It's brought the together the country behind the president. I think people have seen that President Bush has been able to bring this difficult situation to a successful ending.

CABELL: Were you ever worried that the men and women might not come back?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes, I was very worried. And being a Navy wife, I can say I'm especially happy that the patience of the United States has paid off because of course we all wanted to see them come home safely. But I think the United States kept their stand and did not have to compromise their position.

CABELL: Let me ask you, sir, did President Bush do a good job?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think he did a fantastic job, fantastic.

CABELL: Was you impatient ever? Was there ever a desire on your part to see action more quickly?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, during the last day or two, I started becoming a little impatient. And I think he was too. But I think everything worked out wonderfully.

CABELL: Could this have gotten more serious than it did?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oh, it sure could have. I believe it could have.

CABELL: But you didn't want to see it exacerbate in any way?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No, not whatsoever. I'm just glad things worked out the way they did.

CABELL: Thank you very much.

So, once again, tomorrow the big day, 4:00 here in Washington. And, again, we'll have a fairly short ceremony, but a lot of excitement, a lot of jubilation expected. I'm Brian Cabell. Back to you.

HARRIS: All right, thanks, Brian. And as we heard, the 24 crew members are scheduled to leave Hawaii tomorrow for their return to Whidbey Island. And we will carry Saturday's homecoming live right here on CNN beginning at 6:00 p.m. Eastern. And that will 3:00 p.m. Pacific local time there.

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