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New Day

Taiwan Plane Crash: Search for Survivors; Metro North Train Slams Jeep; Emotional Testimony Pits Sister Against Sister in Aaron Hernandez Trial

Aired February 04, 2015 - 08:30   ET

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

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

MICHAELA PEREIRA, CNN ANCHOR: All right, here we go with the five things for today.

Number one, dramatic dash cam video capturing a deadly plane crash in Taiwan. A TransAsia flight hitting a bridge before it plunges into the river. We know at least 23 people at this point are dead.

Officials in New York now say six people are dead after a commuter train outside of New York City slammed into a Jeep during the evening rush. The Jeep stopped on the tracks before the fiery crash. This is the deadliest accident ever for Metro North.

Jordan has executed two jailed al Qaeda extremists. Swift retaliation for the barbaric murder of a Jordanian pilot, who's shown being burned alive in a video released by ISIS.

Strange (ph) testimony pinning sister against sister as Aaron Hernandez's murder trial continues. In the meantime, another juror suddenly dismissed in the former football star's case.

Former Deputy Defense Secretary Ash Carter will make his case today to become the next Pentagon chief. If confirmed, he'd be the fourth secretary of defense to serve under President Obama.

We do update the five things, so be sure to visit newdaycnn.com for the latest.

Chris.

CHRIS CUOMO, CNN ANCHOR: The pictures, just unbelievable and unbelievably frightening. This plane comes from the left part of your screen. Just after takeoff, boom, hits the car, hits the highway, crashes into a shallow bridge. Why? What do we know? We have new information for you coming up.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

CUOMO: All right, we're following two breaking news stories this morning. A plane crash overseas and a train crash right here at home.

Take a look at this dash cam video. Top left of your screen. You see that plane. This is in Taiwan. Barely misses the buildings, hits the road and then crashes into a shallow river. Fifty-eight people on board. At least 23 confirmed dead right now but it's still a very active scene.

Let's bring in CNN aviation analyst and PBS science correspondent Miles O'Brien and Mary Schiavo, CNN aviation analyst and former inspector general for the U.S. Department of Transportation. Thanks to both of you again.

Let's go back to the video of the plane. Let's get that ready to slow it down. Miles, I ask you this in the meantime. All these air crashes in Asia, is it just because of how many flights and how many people, or is there some reason that we keep hearing about them?

MILES O'BRIEN, CNN AVIATION ANALYST: This is a fast growing region, Chris. It's now the large aviation sector in the world. That's happened very quickly. It's a tremendous amount of pressure to have aircraft and crews that are flying those aircraft to meet the demand. And so you have to ask the question about whether the airlines are really sticking to the rules and the standard practices on maintenance and training of these crews. And I think that's a big question we should be asking.

CUOMO: All right. So, let's ask it. Mary, let's take a look at this slowed down video again. You, early on in the show, said that you thought one propeller was moving more slowly than the other. And it does seem that the left propeller was more -- you know, running at a different rate. The plane was pitched that way. What does it mean to you, other than the obvious, which is that there was an engine issue?

MARY SCHIAVO, CNN AVIATION ANALYST: Well, we -- right. And the way that the plane is pitched and the fact that the plane was taking off and that it's a twin engine turbo prop, I mean to me it suggests that they had a left engine problem and I really suspect that once we get the air traffic control tower tapes, if that's what they had, they would have had time to get off a mayday call. It looks to me like they were headed to the water, perhaps trying to try a "miracle on the Hudson" landing on the water. They didn't have enough altitude, and to me, with just one engine, they weren't able to maintain that altitude to make it over the highway.

But if you lose an engine on takeoff on a twin turbo prop, you know, it's tough. You have to be trained to fly it and it sure looks to me that they lost the left engine.

CUOMO: Mary pointed out that the problem rate of crashes involved with twin engine prop planes are actually worse than single engine. That comes down to piloting. Why, Miles? Why? You would think two engines give you a better chance.

O'BRIEN: You would think. And, in this case, certainly there's enough power provided by that remaining engine to make that airplane fly. But the crew has to do a lot of things exactly right in the exact sequence within seconds in order to make this all work. They have to feather the prop or ensure that the automatic feathering system works. It's the difference between being it this way and this way. You don't want to have it acting like a plow. That causes drag and will bring you down. You have to push the right rudder, which steers the nose to the right. And you have to maintain a certain air speed, minimum controllable air speed. If you don't -- all those things don't happen, and meanwhile you're trying to figure out where a possible emergency landing might occur, you're going to find the thing does not go well, as we saw.

CUOMO: Right, especially with it rolled over on its side like that as it's crashing down toward the water. It's amazing more people weren't hurt in those buildings, on that road and in that plane, that people survived. The recovery is still ongoing. The numbers are not solid.

All right, so now let's look at the other situation, Mary, this train crash that we just had here outside New York City, the deadliest ever in Metro North rail history. Seven people, at this hour. Many still critically injured. So, again, another evolving situation. Seems that an SUV stuck on the tracks, the crossing gates came down on it. Why would a car be in that situation?

SCHIAVO: Well, there are a couple of reasons. Well, many reasons the car might be in that situation. And the most common one, which has been an effort by the Department of Transportation literally for a couple of decades to get people to quit doing this, is beating the train and trying to go around the -- trying to beat the warning signals and the gates coming down. And in some cases they have even gone around the gates and it's just tragic how many accidents occur because of that. However, we don't know if that's what happened in this case.

There are also many instances where the lights and the signals, the warning bells don't work, don't function, where the gates are coming down and you don't get that preliminary warning. And then, finally, the trains are supposed to blow their whistles at particular points when they're approaching the crossing. However, in many places, in many municipalities, there are limits on where they can blow the whistle. So there are many reasons why someone might not be aware that a train is coming or that the gates are about to come down.

CUOMO: Right. And now, in terms of the accountability here of what was -- should have been done or was done by those in charge, the death toll, some good news, the death toll was revised from seven to six. So that's good. We want as many people to make it as possible. The problem, Miles, though, one of those six is the person who was operating the train. So you won't get that perspective. But there's plenty of information on a train to tell what was happening and how they reacted to it, right?

O'BRIEN: Well, you know, it's not unlike aviation. There are recorders and there's all kinds of capability in the system which measures speed, whether that crossing system was working properly. It's not like they're completely in the dark in the absence of a living operator of that train.

CUOMO: All right. Look, the governor said, who happens to be my brother, he said accidents happen. But here's my push back on that, Mary. Yes, they do happen. And then the NTSB goes in and investigates and they come out with reports and recommendations so they don't happen again.

And we know a report came out after that December 13 crash that they had of the plane -- train derailing and people died and the pilot -- the driver had sleep apnea that went undiagnosed. In that recommendation, how do we know whether or not it was followed by the rail authority and by the politicians involved?

SCHIAVO: Well, we don't until there's a follow-up report. And my old office, the Office of the Inspector General, does track whether the NTSB recommendations have been implemented by the Department of Transportation and its entities like federal rail and mass transit oversight agencies. But the NTSB can only ask, and it's really a very -- had tremendous foresight when they issued a report just a few weeks ago saying that improving mass transit safety and fire suppression and that Metro-North had had six accidents in a couple of years and that they were a target, too, for safety improvements. There, you know, they had great foresight. They're almost like the Cassandra of transportation. But they depend upon other federal agencies to make those safety recommendations be implemented. The NTSB can only beg.

CUOMO: So Cassandra, Greek mythology, known for only prognosticating negative outcomes, but let's say they got it right and there was a negative outcome and they were saying it and it did happen again. Does it make it easier to get change this time, Mary, quickly?

SCHIAVO: Yes, because the federal government and many state governments legislate on the backs of tragedies. They legislate with a body count. And here there's been more body counts; way past time to act.

CUOMO: All right, Mary Schiavo, thank you very much. Miles O'Brien, appreciate the perspective as always. Alisyn?

ALISYN CAMEROTA, CNN ANCHOR: OK, Chris, there is drama in the Aaron Hernandez trial. Testimony pitting sisters against each other. One, Hernandez's fiancee; the other was the girlfriend of the victim. What we can expect in court today. We'll give you a full report.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PEREIRA: Emotions are running really high at the murder trial of Aaron Hernandez as stirring testimony's pitting sister against sister. Today the victim's mother may take the stand. Let's get right to Miguel Marquez. He's live with us before the very latest on this trial that a lot of people are watching.

MIGUEL MARQUEZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It is incredibly intense here, Michaela, as this trial is not only about a murder trial but it is splitting a family apart. Shayanna Jenkins, the fiancee of Aaron Hernandez, has just showed up. Looks like we're going to get started on time today, in what's expected to be another emotional day of testimony.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MARQUEZ (voice-over): An emotional Shaneah Jenkins, girlfriend of murder victim Odin Lloyd as she told jurors about getting the call from a state trooper in June 2013.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What did you learn?

SHANEAH JENKINS, ODIN LLOYD'S GIRLFRIEND: That Odin was dead.

MARQUEZ: Shaneah describes her sister Shayanna's behavior in the hours and days after Lloyd's death. Her sister was and still is the fiancee of Aaron Hernandez.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: When you say she kept getting text messages, how was she behaving after receiving these text messages?

SHANEAH JENKINS: Just not normal. Secretive.

MARQUEZ: Shaneah says after some of those secretive calls and texts, she saw her sister taking a black garbage bag to the basement. She then asked to borrow her car.

The testimony started late after high drama, one juror dismissed.

JUDGE SUSAN GARSH, BRISTOL COUNTY SUPERIOR COURT JUDGE: The court is dismissing Juror Number 96 in the best interest of justice.

MARQUEZ: After a lengthy hearing behind closed doors, the judge ruled the juror appeared to favor Aaron Hernandez, had spoken or expressed opinions about the case, attended more Patriots' games than she admitted on the juror questionnaire, and most shocking --

GARSH: The juror expressed specific opinion about the case to the effect that in the absence of a weapon, it would be hard to convict.

MARQUEZ: Brian Fraga has followed the trial since the beginning since the beginning for "Fall River Herald News".

BRIAN FRAGA, REPORTER, FALL RIVER HERALD NEWS: I'd say it's a huge story. This is a former star tight end for the New England Patriots. It's been something that's been nonstop in the headlines for the better part of the last two years now.

MARQUEZ: Shaneah Jenkins' testimony against Aaron Hernandez will continue. Her sister Shayanna may eventually contradict her sister, testifying on Hernandez's behalf.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

MARQUEZ (on camera): Now the dynamic in that courtroom is interesting in the sense that Shaneah is on the stand. Her sister Shayanna sit on the other side of the courtroom from her and her family. It is incredible and very emotional to see. Michaela.

PEREIRA: And then more emotion expected today. We understand that Odin Lloyd's mother is expected to take the stand, Miguel.

MARQUEZ: Yes, Ursula Ward may get up on the stand. It depends on how far they get through. The prosecution still is talking or questioning Shaneah and then the defense will be able to have their redirect. So it's not clear we will get to Ursula Ward today, but it is certainly possible. And she has had a hard time getting through any of this trial, so we expect it's going to be a tough day when she does get up on that stand.

PEREIRA: Miguel, there's been so much attention and interest in this case. We saw that one juror getting dismissed summarily. What effect is this going to have on the other jurors, all of this attention and interest in the case? And is there a concern that it's going to affect the outcome of the trial?

MARQUEZ: Yes, it's interesting. The judge gave a lengthy description of why that juror was dismissed outside of earshot of the jury. When the jury came back in, the judge only said, look, this is a juror who was dismissed, it has nothing to do with this case and we will continue on. But they were concerned about this juror because she had wanted to be on this jury. She had attended many Patriots' games. She appeared to favor Aaron Hernandez and even made statements that there was no way to get a conviction without a murder weapon. They have not found a murder weapon yet. So I think that both sides were concerned about this juror contaminating the rest of the jury pool and they got rid of her. Michaela.

PEREIRA: All right, Miguel Marquez in Fall River, Massachusetts. We appreciate it. Alisyn?

CAMEROTA: All right, Michael, we need some Good Stuff. A man in upstate New York decides to help out his entire town for free. What's in it for him? We'll tell you in the Good Stuff.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

CUOMO: I could go either way on this song for the segment. But here's the Good Stuff. Today's edition, 21-year-old Steven Madelon of Amsterdam, New York, OK? He's out of work. He's got a newborn daughter. So what does he recently do in a snowstorm? He went driveway to driveway to driveway to driveway shoveling out all of his neighbors for free. More than 20 driveways; e spent a whole day. Why? Because.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

STEVEN MADELON, SHOVELED NEIGHBORS OUT OF SNOW FOR FREE: I was offered money a couple of times. I didn't take any money from anybody.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I didn't think it was real. I was like, yes, there's got to be a catch to it.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CUOMO: Of course there does, but you know what? There isn't. Steve dug out all of his neighbors, doing the ones that need the most help first, elderly, the sick, et cetera. So what did he get out of it?

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) MADELON: I was just, you know, one guy out there just doing something, making a difference. Reaction you get is -- it's so worth it. It really is.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CUOMO: You know, when a guy wants to take care of his family and he wants that sense of worth, man or woman, sometimes that's all you need. So he doesn't want anything more out of it. But, you know what, we do. Steven is out of work. Employers up there in Amsterdam, New York, you've got a guy with good character; that's in rare supply these days. Give him a shot and let us know.

PEREIRA: He's not afraid of hard work at all.

CAMEROTA: Oh, that's great. Maybe we'll have an update on the Good Stuff for you at some point.

CUOMO: Come on, somebody out there needs someone like him.

Lots of breaking news. Let's get you to the "NEWSROOM" with Ms. Carol Costello.

CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: All right, thanks so much. Have a great day.

"NEWSROOM" starts now.