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CNN Headlines: Crew Member Appears To Jump From Amazon Cargo Plane After Crash; Hurricane Lowell Lashing Hawaii With Flooding Rain, Massive Waves; Palace: Prince Harry And Meghan Remain Non-Working Royals. Aired 5:30-6a ET
Aired September 08, 2026 - 05:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
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[05:31:00]
BRAD SMITH, CNN ANCHOR: It is half past the hour. Let's hit the refresh button on our top stories.
Canada's new counter tariffs on hundreds of American products are now in effect. Our neighbors to the north are imposing the levies of up to 50 percent on more than 700 American goods. It's the latest escalation in the trade war between the U.S. and a close ally.
Also new this morning, convicted child sex abuser Jerry Sandusky is expected to appear remotely in a Pennsylvania courtroom today. The 82- year-old former Penn State University assistant football coach recently withdrew his request for a new trial, which was based on one victim recanting testimony last year. Prosecutors demanded that the hearing proceed so Sandusky can confirm on the record he is dropping the petition to focus on a federal appeal. Sandusky is currently serving at least a 30-year sentence for sexually abusing 10 boys over a 15-year period.
And new details are coming to light about the deadly Amazon cargo plane crash at Miami International Airport. The chair of the NTSB says that all five of those killed on Sunday were in cars that the plane hit on the ground in the fiery crash. Take a closer look at this video. It actually appears to show a crew member jumping from the aircraft. We know that five others were hurt but not all the details yet, including the condition of the two pilots.
CNN's Sherrell Hubbard has more on the ongoing investigation.
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SHERRELL HUBBARD, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voiceover): Federal investigators say all five of the dead were inside vehicles.
JENNIFER HOMENDY, CHAIR, NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION SAFETY BOARD: I would describe it in one word of devastating.
HUBBARD (voiceover): National Transportation Safety Board chairwoman Jennifer Homendy says three of the injured people were taken to a trauma center in critical condition.
Tracking data shows the Amazon cargo plane flying from San Juan, Puerto Rico and passing through a developing thunderstorm as it approached the airport.
DAVID SOUCIE, CNN SAFETY ANALYST: The wind had shifted and was actually pushing him down the runway.
HUBBARD (voiceover): And while coming into Miami International Airport, overshot the runway by 1,300 feet before eventually crashing into a parking lot, striking several vehicles.
HOMENDY: The Econoline van is, um, torn apart.
HUBBARD (voiceover): According to authorities, more than 60 fire rescue units and some 200 firefighters responded. A 32-person team will be on site for at least the next week.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Guys, the plane's on fire. The plane's on fire. Put your game faces on.
HUBBARD (voiceover): The NTSB confirmed Monday that it has recovered both the flight data and voice recorders. Investigators are still recovering debris from the Boeing 767 as they search the cause of the crash.
MARY SCHIAVO, CNN TRANSPORTATION ANALYST: What she said is they will be looking at the airport, the airfield, the weather, the piloting, the plane, the airline.
HUBBARD (voiceover): The NTSB is asking anyone with information related to the crash to step forward.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SMITH: CNN's Sherelle Hubbard reporting.
At last check, two runways at Miami International Airport remain shut down for the investigation, triggering hundreds of cancellations and flight delays measured in the hours.
Hurricane Lowell's outer rain bands are lashing parts of Hawaii with heavy rain and dangerous surf. Meteorologists say that the powerful storm is making its closest approach to the islands.
CNN's Reed Benyon has more for us.
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ELTON USHIO, ADMINISTRATOR, KAUAI EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY: We are preparing for the worst. We are treating it as if we are preparing for a direct hit.
REED BENYON, CNN REPORTER (voiceover): Officials in Hawaii underscoring the threat posed by Hurricane Lowell as it drew closer to the state Monday. USHIO: We need to be ready for those triple threats -- high wind, rainfall, flooding, flash flooding, and then finally storm surge.
BENYON (voiceover): The powerful storm's outer rain bands lashing the state with heavy rain and dangerous surf. Conditions rapidly deteriorating Monday on Hawaii's western islands where Lowell's impacts were expected to peak Monday night into Tuesday morning.
[05:35:05]
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And what that really means to everybody is that we are asking everyone to start sheltering in place.
BENYON (voiceover): Many residents heeding that warning and stocking up in preparation.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Hopefully preparing for nothing but very nervous on how everything's going to play out for us.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm worried about the hurricane that hitting the island.
BENYON (voiceover): Travelers also adjusting their plans due to the storm.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: So I was supposed to fly out today and decided to cancel my flight.
BENYON (voiceover): This as Lowell's impacts continue to be felt on islands farther east in Hawaii, including Oahu, where heavy rain left roads flooded.
I'm Reed Bennion reporting.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SMITH: Thank you, Reed.
Turning overseas, Houthi rebels in Yemen say that they have targeted Saudi Arabian energy facilities with dozens of ballistic missiles and drones. Saudi Arabia says more than 70 people have been injured.
As CNN's Paula Hancocks reports, the Iran-backed Houthis say the move comes in response to "Saudi aggression."
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PAULA HANCOCKS, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: What we've seen from the Houthi rebels Tuesday is something that has been condemned by Saudi Arabia and by Saudi Arabia's regional allies as well. The fact that it was targeting civilian and economic areas, the fact that there were dozens of people that were injured does signal an escalation in the fight that we have seen in Yemen over recent months.
The four-year tenuous ceasefire between Saudi Arabia and the government -- internationally backed government -- and the Houthi rebels broke down back in July. There was a ceasefire that was going for some four years.
So what we've seen is that economic civilian areas have been targeted in western Saudi Arabia by these -- the Houthis.
We also understand from the Saudi energy minister that there have been some energy infrastructure in the south of the country that has also been targeted, saying at one point there had to be a temporary halt in production. Some firefighters were injured as they tried to bring that blaze under control.
We have a statement as well from the Saudi foreign ministry -- I'll read part of it to you -- saying, "The kingdom affirms its legitimate right to take all necessary measures to defend its sovereignty, safeguard its national resources, and protect the security and safety of its citizens and residents."
It stresses that it will not tolerate any attack targeting its territory or national assets in accordance with the rules of international law. Now the spokesperson of the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen has called these attacks dangerous and senseless, saying that that they will have a resolute response.
Now, we've also had a statement from the Houthis, and they have said that this was actually in retaliation for what they call Saudi aggression. We have been seeing a counteroffensive by Saudi-led forces against the Houthi rebels over recent months. But this does raise concerns that there could be an increase in activity in this area.
The Houthis, of course, backed by Iran, one of their proxies. And this is really a conflict and a civil war that has been rumbling for some years.
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SMITH: We have some new developments this morning in a notorious 1989 murder case. Lyle and Erik Menendez will get a shot at freedom next year. Court records obtained by CNN show the brothers who were convicted of murdering their parents in their Beverly Hills home are scheduled for a parole hearing for March 2027. The pair had been serving a life sentence but were resentenced last year to 50 years. The state parole board and California Gov. Gavin Newsom must sign off on any release.
New this morning, new calls for the singer known as D4vd to face the death penalty for the brutal murder of a teenage girl.
CNN's Los Angeles affiliate KABC reports that Celeste Rivas- Hernandez's family released a statement on what would have been her 16th birthday, saying the death penalty for D4vd would be "perfect for this kind of human being, devoid of feelings and emptiness inside and without conscience. But that's not in our hands, but rather in God's and the California justice system."
Rivas Hernandez was just 14 when prosecutors say her then boyfriend, D4vd, whose full name is David Anthony Burke, murdered her and left her dismembered body in his car in 2025. He's pleaded not guilty to murder and is due back in court next month.
Prince Harry and Meghan may be back in Britain, but Buckingham Palace is drawing a firm line. King Charles says that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex will remain non-working royals even after returning to the U.K. following six years in the U.S.
[05:40:08]
CNN's Anna Stewart reports with more
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ANNA STEWART, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Prince Harry and Meghan may be back in the U.K., but it is no change as far as the King is concerned. The King's message has been sent out to senior members of the government, the military, and Lord Lieutenants who carry on the king's work up and down the country. And it's also been sent to Harry and Meghan.
And it kind of feels like ground rules. They are no longer working members of the royal family. They won't be using their titles, his and her Royal Highness, and they are essentially private citizens with charitable and commercial interests. Now, that much we knew. Those were the rules put in place by the late queen years ago.
So what's different here? Well, there is a slightly unusual part at the end of the letter, which says "...official and state organizations who wish to extend courtesies to the Duke and Duchess, particularly where recourse to public funds may be required, should be directed to Buckingham Palace."
Now I say this is unusual because the palace doesn't control public funds, but perhaps what this does is make abundantly clear that the palace is expecting Harry and Meghan to carry out charitable private interests, commercial interests, and nothing else. Nothing that would look like the sort of activities and public engagements that working members of the royal family would do, like Prince William, who remains estranged from his brother.
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SMITH: Now to Buzz Express and the stories that have everyone talking this morning.
If you went to the movies this summer, congratulations. You helped set a new box office record. New numbers from Rentrak, a company that tracks box office data, reveals the domestic box office raked in an estimated $4.76 billion, making it the highest grossing summer movie season ever and the biggest since 2013. This is also the first summer in history where every single month, from May through August, generated more than a billion dollars in ticket sales -- wow. Blockbusters like "The Odyssey" and "Spiderman: A Brand New Day" fueled the surge with a combined total of more than $1.5 billion at the U.S. box office.
Lots of talk about the surprise trailer for a new documentary about Elizabeth Holmes. She's in prison for defrauding investors through her company, Theranos. Her story was the focus of the Hulu series, "THE DROPOUT." The trailer was revealed at a film festival over the weekend, and the directors had kept everything hush-hush. They say that Holmes invited them to document her life 34 days before she reported to prison in 2023. They also say it started as an intimate portrait but turned into a three-year mind-bending journey.
Golden Globe winner Terry Hatcher is getting ready to hit the runway. People.com reporting that the "DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES" star will play Miranda Priestly in the musical production of "The Devil Wears Prada" in London's West End starting next month. Hatcher takes over the iconic role from Vanessa Williams, who wraps up her run later this month.
Well, next on CNN HEADLINE EXPRESS, shocking video captures the moment that a toddler runs into fast-moving traffic. How quick thinking saved the child's life.
And you can hear the rumbling of snow from this avalanche moving so fast and furious that it took the lives of 11 climbers. We've got the details on that ahead.
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[05:48:12]]
SMITH: This morning, an incident in the skies ends with an alleged violent and unruly passenger duct-taped to the seat.
CNN's Robbie Hawken has the video that you need to see and how it all unfolded.
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ROBBIE HAWKEN, CNN PRODUCER (voiceover): This passenger had to be restrained aboard a flight for being disruptive. Two passengers told CNN that the man became aggressive, hitting two others, including a woman who tried to intervene.
Passengers Richard Olenick and Juan Mejia say the man was swearing and using "racial and homophobic slurs." The two got up to help, and a flight attendant handed them and another person a zip tie to restrain the man. After he bit Mejia and attempted to bite Olenick, both men said they used duct tape to hold him down.
According to a statement by the Federal Aviation Administration, the American Airlines flight was on its way from Dallas to Newark when the crew reported an incident. An FBI statement said the plane was met by police in Maryland, and the passenger was removed and arrested on state charges. Authorities did not release the man's name.
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SMITH: Let's go around the globe to see what else is making headlines today.
We begin in Egypt, where a popular TV host was said to have pleaded for mercy after being sentenced to death for her alleged role in a drug trafficking ring. That is according to Egyptian state media.
CNN's Nada Bashir has the full story.
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NADA BASHIR, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Death by hanging. That is the sentence facing Egyptian TV presenter Sarah Khalifa, along with 11 others, over their alleged role in a drug trafficking network, according to state media.
The TV host is a well-known entertainment and social media figure in Egypt, with some 2.5 million followers on Instagram. She's best known for presenting the Egyptian crime show "MISSION IMPOSSIBLE," as well as managing her own cosmetic surgery clinic.
[05:50:03]
Now, the 39-year-old is among 12 defendants accused of forming an organized criminal gang, said to be involved in importing substances used to manufacture drugs with the intent of then selling them. Prosecutors say 750 kilograms of synthetic narcotics and other raw materials were seized from the property where the defendants allegedly stored and made the drugs.
State media also reports the gang has also been sentenced for the possession of firearms without a license.
In video circulating on social media, Khalifa is heard weeping during her sentencing, pleading for mercy and humanity.
SARAH KHALIFA, SENTENCED TO DEATH BY HANGING: (Pleading with court).
BASHIR: CNN has been unable to independently verify the footage and has contacted her attorney for comment.
News of the death sentence being issued has sent shockwaves across the world. In 2025 alone, Egypt issued nearly 500 death sentences, one of the highest recorded rates in the world, according to Amnesty International.
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SMITH: Ukrainian officials say that at least two people have been killed and 10 others wounded in a Russian missile and drone attack in the capital of Kyiv. It comes after a 72-hour truce expired, and just a day after U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner visited the region hoping to revive peace talks. The temporary truce had protected only Kyiv and Moscow, while Witkoff and Kushner visited both capital cities over the weekend.
In Russia, at least 11 people were killed in an avalanche. According to local emergency services, the avalanche -- it hit more than 30 climbers Monday on one of the highest peaks in Russia's Caucasus region. Now dozens of emergency workers are taking part in the search and rescue operations, but dangerous conditions are slowing their efforts. Now to Mexico and this heart-stopping scene on a busy street. Take a
look at this.
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Supermarket worker saves a child running into oncoming traffic.
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SMITH: Security camera video captured the moment a supermarket worker jumped into action to save a child who ran into oncoming traffic. The workers saw the child heading for the street and quickly rushed to help. He's now being hailed as a hero.
Still to come on CNN HEADLINE EXPRESS, for those who love their Apple products, big news is coming from the new leader in charge of the tech giant. We've got those details for you ahead.
Plus, a packed stadium and a delay of game. What caused the disruption of a big Monday night college football game? We'll tell you on the other side of the break.
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[05:57:05]
SMITH: Apple's new CEO John Ternus is about to have his first big moment in the spotlight. The tech giant holding a 'Surprise and Shine' event on Wednesday. Ternus, who takes the reins from Tim Cook, is expected to begin unveiling the biggest run of device releases in Apple's history. One of the most anticipated reveals could be the first foldable iPhone. Turnus is taking over just as Apple faces pressure to catch up in the AI race.
Americans who took a holiday road trip got hit pretty hard in the wallet this weekend. AAA reports gas prices were at record levels across much of the country this Labor Day weekend. The country's most expensive gas was found in California -- $5.64 for a gallon of regular.
And a phone call from the other side of the world spurs a rescue mission in the Indian Ocean, and it's all caught on camera.
CNN's Patrick Cornell walks us through the video here.
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PATRICK CORNELL, CNN PRODUCER (voiceover): Rescuers soared in to save a sailor stranded in the middle of the Indian Ocean after missed check-ins caused a Canadian family to call for help. The Australian Maritime Safety Authority says a solo traveler's catamaran started sinking during a voyage to the remote Christmas Island. After failing to call family back in Canada twice, the sailor's brother alerted Australian authorities who launched a search and rescue mission, spotting him hundreds of miles away from his destination. After dropping emergency supplies, the Royal Australian Navy launched
a helicopter to swoop in, pick up the adventurer and get him to the safety of a nearby ship. Authorities tell ABC Australia that the sailor is in good condition after the rescue.
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SMITH: All right. Let's get to check-in on some of the other stories making news across the country.
We start in South Los Angeles. That's where a police chase ended in a violent crash on Monday. The LAPD says that the suspect was trying to flee police when they struck multiple vehicles, including one that overturned. At least five people were injured. The suspect was arrested. Police say the car that they were driving may have been stolen.
Seattle police officers saved several people from a burning apartment building, and here's that bodycam video.
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POLICE OFFICER: Seattle police, come out! Come out! There's a fire! Get out! There's a fire!
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SMITH: And one of those officers was working the first shift of his career. They saw the flames coming from a second story window and ran inside to wake everybody up so they could get out.
A college football game in Florida went low tech after a power outage at a Tallahassee stadium. The matchup between Florida State and SMU didn't have replay reviews, coach-to-player helmet communication, a scoreboard, a public address system, or even all the lights on. The outage was the result of a power short in the main transformer supplying the electricity. SMU ended up winning 27 to 24.
[06:00:10]
And in California, there was plenty of flexing, posing and showing off years of hard work. Competitors from around the world gathered at the iconic Muscle Beach Championship in Venice Beach. The bodybuilding competition took place at the legendary Muscle Beach Gym, long considered one of the sport's most famous stages. I'll be there soon.
That does it for CNN HEADLINE EXPRESS. I'm Brad Smith. "CNN THIS MORNING WITH AUDIE CORNISH" starts right now.
