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CNN Saturday Morning News

Deadly Air Race Crash; Hikers Held in Iran Expected to be Released; 'Contagion': Movie or Reality?

Aired September 17, 2011 - 07:00   ET

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

T.J. HOLMES, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning. Good Saturday morning, everybody. At the top of the hour on this CNN SATURDAY MORNING.

And we have to start with the tragedy out in Nevada, this horrific plane crash at an air show, spectators looked up and this plane was barreling towards them. At least three people are dead, at least 54 have been injured, and we will explain why many are now calling the pilot of that plane a hero for what he did at the last moment.

Also, it is the number one movie at the box office. It's called "Contagion." Our own Dr. Sanjay Gupta plays himself in that movie. It's about a deadly disease that spreads across the world and kills within days. It has a lot of people wondering, could this really happen. My conversation with Sanjay is coming up.

But, again, from the CNN Center, thank you for being here on this September 17th. Seven a.m. here in Atlanta, 4:00 a.m. in Reno, and that is where we're going to start.

This crash, this is a high speed air race in Reno, Nevada. Three people killed. Fifty plus injured -- at least 12 of those injured are considered to be in critical condition.

Now, as you know this is an air show, an air race. A lot of people out there had their cameras, video cameras. So, we have several pieces of video to show you.

Let me start with the first, this one is in slow motion and we highlight the plane taking a nose dive there. This is a P-51 Mustang. I'll explain more about that plane in just a moment, but the second piece of video you can see and you can hear what was going on. It goes about 13 seconds. Listen.

(VIDEO CLIP PLAYS)

HOLMES: The plane slammed into the boxed seats, but it missed the crowded grandstand. Now, this last piece of video I'm going to show you certainly gives more of an idea of the impact and the sound of the impact. Look and listen again.

(VIDEO CLIP PLAYS)

HOLMES: Again, like we mentioned at least 50 people injured. Three people are dead, including the pilot, and there will be a memorial service for the pilot today at that airfield, his name is Jimmy Leeward, real estate developer from Florida and experienced air racer.

I talked to one witness a short time ago, he was watching Leeward's plane go by just before the crash.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GUS MCCREA, CRASH WITNESS (via telephone): Mr. Leeward had just run past me and I was thinking how beautiful the aircraft sounded. I watched him go down range. I looked, there was something uncharacteristic, his winged waggled and then he departed from the organized flight into the vertical.

I knew something was wrong. I thought hopefully it was not too serious, but then it obviously became obvious it was extremely serious. And people were crying out in the desert. There were women crying and -- this is just a tragic event all around.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOLMES: As I said, this was a P-51 Mustang. The Mustang was a major part of the American effort in World War II, top speed of more than 400 miles per hour.

Also, I want to draw your attention to the screen one more time and this still photo coming to us from one of our iReporters, can you imagine this horror, it shows you the crowd below, the plane coming down just a moment before impact. Now, this is a bit of an illusion. This did not land on the more crowded area at the air race. But still, this picture is just horrific.

I do have a phone number I want to pass along. This is for friends and family members who may be having a tough time getting in contact with people they know were at that air show. Right now, we know the crisis center out there has gotten reports from people trying to find at least 150 people who are missing. But still, that's just people not getting in contact.

But if you want to check on someone it's 775-337-5800. Also, if you have been at that air show and you know someone might be concerned about you -- give your family, your friends a call, let them know that you are OK.

Well, at four minutes past the hour now, turn to a major story here in Atlanta, Georgia, a man's death row sentence is set to be carried out in just four days. The case has been getting attention all around the world. Troy Davis was convicted of killing an off-duty Savannah police officer in 1989. That officer's name, Mark MacPhail.

But since his 1991 conviction, seven of the nine witnesses against Troy Davis have either recanted or contradicted their testimony. Davis supporters marched in downtown Atlanta yesterday. The Georgia Pardon and Parole Board expected to consider an appeal on Monday. MacPhail's family and the former prosecutors say Davis is guilty.

Davis' sister and his entire family have been saying all along he did not do this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIPS)

KIMBERLY DAVIS, DAVIS' SISTER: We still have the seven of the nine witnesses that have recanted. We have people that are coming out speaking the truth and we know that the truth shall set him free.

SPENCER LAWTON, FORMER CLATHAM CO. DISTRICT ATTY.: I'm disappointed so many people have been led to believe that nobody has paid attention to the recantations. It is, as I explained earlier, simply not the case. It's just not the case.

On what ground are the recantations more believable than the testimony in court? None. None.

(END VIDEO CLIPS)

HOLMES: Now, the mother of that Savannah police officer, Mark MacPhail, she has been waiting on Wednesday, the day Troy Davis is expected to be executed, scheduled to be executed.

We will hear her side of the story and what she has been going through the past 20 years. And also, through three other execution dates that were called off. I'm talking to her live this morning. That's in our 9:00 Eastern Hour.

Six minutes past the hour.

Standing by for other developments this morning on another major story, word on those two American hikers still jailed in Iran. They've been there the past two years. But this morning, the attorney of the two saying he is, quote, "very hopeful" that they might be released as early as today.

Josh Fattal and Shane Bauer have been held in Iran for two years after they say they accidentally went over the border into Iran.

Our Mohammed Jamjoom joins me now from Oman. Mohammed will explain why Oman is so relevant here in just a moment. But also, remind us, we have been down this road before, thinking they might be released.

MOHAMMED JAMJOOM, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, that's right, T.J. There's been a lot of speculation the last few days ever since Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said that the hikers could be released within two to three days. Many people thought Wednesday might be the day. It didn't happen.

Then it was the weekend in Iran. A lot of people thought today could be the day. We heard from the lawyer for Josh Fattal and Shane Bauer in Tehran a short while ago. He explained to us what he's been dealing with today. He took papers that he had signed saying that the bail had been posted to the court. At that point, it's in the hands of two judges.

He's told that us that according to one of the judges, he has signed those documents. And now, another judge still has to sign the documents, saying that the judges are aware that the bail has been posted. And that point, then Josh Fattal and Shane Bauer, according to the lawyer, could be released. That's why he's very hopeful.

And yet, it's still in the holding pattern because according to the lawyer, one of those judges from what he's heard from has still not signed those documents. And until that last judge signs those documents, it can't be proven that bail has actually been paid -- T.J.

HOLMES: All right. And you got to this for me, just a couple of seconds. The significance of Oman in this whole story -- why you're there and how they could play a role?

JAMJOOM: T.J., we're here in Oman because last year when Sara Shourd was released, she came through Oman. And it emerged after that that an Omani source had actually paid the $500,000 in bail money to release Sarah Shroud.

A lot of speculation now that the Omanis might be there, there might be a delegation there trying to negotiate the release or possibly even pay the bail on behalf of Josh Fattal and Shane Bauer. Omani government officials --

HOLMES: It looks like we might have lost that signal there. But we will reconnect with him. That's our Mohammed Jamjoom in Oman. But, again, standing by for possible word on the release of the two. But we have been standing before.

It's eight minutes past the hour.

Let us once again say good morning to Alexandra Steele, our meteorologist.

Always good to have you with us. And summertime, say goodbye.

ALEXANDRA STEELE, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Pumpkin spice coffee.

HOLMES: You got one?

STEELE: I got one.

HOLMES: You didn't bring me one?

STEELE: No. You said you didn't like it.

HOLMES: But still, you got me pumped up about it. OK.

STEELE: OK. All right. Well, apple picking, you got it right. How about the coldest air of the season making its way into the Northeast and New England, even some patchy frost around this morning if you're getting up bright and early. So, how low will it go? How warm will it gets? Football forecast, everything you know for a great Saturday and Sunday. Full weekend forecast coming up right after the break. Meet you back here in a moment.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HOLMES: Oh, wow. Twelve minutes past the hour. And we have Alexandra Steele dancing to this little number here.

You like that picture? You like this song.

STEELE: I do, absolutely. Oh, what a great morning, right? We're talking -- I asked, T.J., I was do you like to apple pick? I guess it's not a guy thing. Apple picking.

HOLMES: It's not just my thing.

STEELE: Not your thing. Where are you from originally?

HOLMES: I'm from West Memphis, Arkansas, originally.

STEELE: Oh, probably not a lot of apples there.

HOLMES: Not a whole lot.

STEELE: In Connecticut, you're picking Macouns. I mean, I'm an expert on the apple picking business. Let me tell you.

All right. So, the fall season begins, believe it or not. Last full weekend to fall to this, as if on cue, right? We're seeing it. Very chilly temperatures, coldest air of the season for some, even some frost if you're waking up in New England.

You know, unfortunately, of course, with the tropical storm of the hurricane that went through New England and did such damage to the trees and the leaves, hopefully, it will be a robust season. They say they're open for business, so go up there and certainly give them some business. They certainly need the tourism.

Cold morning there, no question about it. So, it's the pumpkin spice coffee, right? No question about that.

Here's the big picture. Area of high pressure, cold Canadian high. So, that's dominating the weather, bringing cool temperatures in the upper Midwest. Yesterday morning was really the coldest. We're king of beginning to warm up. So, each day, it gets a couple of degrees warmer.

High pressure in control and with the counter-clockwise, clockwise flow around it, what we're seeing here is this air coming in of the water. So, if you're in the mid-Atlantic beaches, not the best beach weekend, the last full weekend of summer, not going to be a good one. That's for sure.

Some cloudy skies and showers and even some rip currents there with some elevated surf. So a big picture today. Southeast -- sunny skies, pretty nice, Atlanta and Memphis temperatures in the low 80s. So, a little bit warmer than yesterday by a degree or two.

And in the Northeast, 60s there. Temperatures just a little bit warmer than they were, everyone really warming up.

But even here in the Deep South, temperatures in the 90s, low 90s so certainly more comfortable than they've been.

That's a wrap for the forecast. We'll have a football forecast coming up.

HOLMES: Alexandra, thank you. We'll see you again here shortly. At 14 minutes past the hour.

The movie "Contagion" is number one at the box office. But it may be more than a movie, it may be a warning.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The average person touches their face three to five times every waking minute. In between, we're touching doorknobs, water fountains and each other.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: On day one, there were two people, and then four, and then 16. In three months, it's 1 billion. That's where we're headed.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOLMES: Could this really happen?

Well, after the break, one of the stars of the movie -- OK, maybe not the star of the movie but our Dr. Sanjay Gupta who is in that movie, he's here to break this all down.

Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HOLMES: And look who we have here, my good friend, Sanjay Gupta.

DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN CHIEF MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: I'm here whenever you call, T.J.

HOLMES: Yes, I hear that all the time.

Now, I have to explain, folks, sometimes you notice a change in your friends. I noticed a change in Sanjay, not too long ago. And then I figured out what it was -- Sanjay has gone to Hollywood on us.

GUPTA: Are we fading to black at this point?

HOLMES: No, we are not. No, this is pretty cool. Sanjay, if you didn't know, is in the new hit movie "Contagion."

Now, we're seeing a part of it here. What was that like to be sitting next to the likes of Fishburne and Jude Law and others like that?

GUPTA: It was -- it was intimidating, I'll tell you. And, you know, you and I both in television at Paramount, and I think that's so striking is that they tell you to be yourself -- and they tell you that all the time, I'm sure. It's actually hard to do sometimes because I'm thinking which self do they actually want, the comedic more T.J. Holmes-like self or the more serious.

You know, it was a lot of fun. Steven Soderbergh, he's a terrific director. And I've always admired his movies. And I got an idea of why he's good. And he's not -- I mean, it's such a very small attention to detail.

He also runs one of the nine cameras in the room as well.

HOLMES: Important to note. They tell you to be yourself, because you are playing yourself.

GUPTA: Right.

HOLMES: But the subject matter, we're having fun here, you being Hollywood. But still, the subject matter here will scare the hell out of some people. The movie essentially about a virus, a disease that takes over and starts just killing the world.

GUPTA: It is. It's a true pandemic. And I got to tell you the first time I watched it, it is unsettling to watch. I think it will be for anybody.

But one of the things they wanted to make this as real as possible. There have been pandemics in the world, the 1918 flu pandemic killed 15 million people at least that is estimated, and that was before we had global air travel and live in the society that we do now.

They sort of wanted to figure out if there was a pathogen that became like that virus and spread around the world that was so lethal, how would the world react, what would we do? Would we shut down airports? We shut down services? Would people turn against each other? What would people's relationships be? So, it was as much about the social structure between people as it was about this virus.

HOLMES: And we'd like to think with the advancements in medicine and technology that something like that can't happen again. Now, last thing here, can it?

GUPTA: I think it can, and I don't say that to be frightening. If you look at hospitals, they'd love to have a huge reserve of hospital beds, ventilators, all sorts of different medications available in case. That's just not how the world works now. I mean, they work basically taking care of the patients coming in at any given time. If suddenly they have to handle a surge of millions of more patients, it would be a very challenging thing to do.

I think what the lesson here though is that most of this can still be prevented, because so much of it is truly -- it sounds silly to say after you watch this movie but hand washing. And so, there's little things that we can do to try and prevent it from getting as bad as it might.

HOLMES: All right. Sanjay Gupta, again not trying to scare you this morning, but still --

GUPTA: I'm here to keep this man around as long as possible.

HOLMES: I do appreciate the good doctor making an appearance with us on the weekend. Any time, right?

GUPTA: You heard it here first.

HOLMES: Any time. Thanks, Sanjay.

GUPTA: Take care.

HOLMES: All right. More of the good doctor coming up at the bottom of the hour with "SANJAY GUPTA, M.D."

Then, stay tuned tonight -- he has a special about swimming through shark-infested waters? This is 8:00 Eastern tonight, "DIANA NYAD: EXTREME DREAM." You can see that right here, 8:00 Eastern Time here on CNN.

Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HOLMES: All right. Twenty-two past the hour.

Listen up to this before you head to the dentist again. Some dentists, you know, they give their patients x-rays every six months. That might not be necessary. Radiologists and dentists say we're getting too much radiation. They suggest asking their dentist about how many x-rays, but they suggest asking their dentist about how many x-rays are actually needed. Some important information there.

A quick break and our financial analyst, Clyde Anderson, with me next. Stay here.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HOLMES: All right. Twenty-four minutes past the hour.

Let's say good morning to Clyde Anderson, our financial analyst.

CLYDE ANDERSON, CNN CONTRIBUTOR: Good morning.

HOLMES: We know we have been covering a ton of natural disasters it seems billions of billions of dollars.

ANDERSON: Yes.

HOLMES: Suppose someone in the middle of the country who didn't get hit, they could still be paying. ANDERSON: Still be paying.

HOLMES: OK. Why is that? Explain why that works.

ANDERSON: Insurance companies are in the business to protect you, but also to make money. And so, the more money to put -- they got to replenish the pot. But they also got to stay in business. So, they're going to raise some rates to cover themselves.

HOLMES: OK. How big are the rate increases we could possibly be talking about?

ANDERSON: We're seeing increases from 10 percent to 20 percent that they've already put in with some of the state insurance agencies to go ahead or authorities to go ahead and have these increases take effect.

HOLMES: OK. People remember the South with the tornadoes, the East Coast with the hurricanes. But -- I mean, are those mainly the areas that will see the increases or are we talking about all across the country.

ANDERSON: And it really depends. I mean, right now, that's where we're going to see the increases beginning. You're going to see some in Texas and Georgia. These are the areas that have already -- in Alabama, that have already filed to go ahead and increase the rates. And so, we could see that spread.

HOLMES: OK. Will we even know it? I mean, I didn't get hit by disaster, but if I'm not paying close attention, would I even know?

ANDERSON: You could miss it if you're not paying close attention. And this is one of the things everybody doesn't really pay attention, especially insurance. If you're paying it in advance or tied to your mortgage.

So, what you have to do is know and look at the mail that you're getting, read it, call the insurance company and just say, what's my rate right now? They're going to send the information in the mail but sometimes we miss it.

HOLMES: Can you compare? And we see some of those commercials. Some of those auto commercials -- we'll compare for you, all this stuff. But can you get a good deal on insurance now or are they all doing the same rates?

ANDERSON: You can still get a good deal, because again a lot of factors that go into your insurance. So, just because they're raising their rates, you may have some other things that could lower your rates. You may have things that maybe you don't have in your home that you don't have to have insured. So, there are some times you can have a decrease in the actual rate that you're paying.

And so, shop around, it's key. Call them once or every other year, call them and see what my rate is and see if I qualify for any discounts. Sometimes you qualify for discounts for the school you went to, some other organizations or affiliations that you may have, that have discounts.

HOLMES: Last thing here -- is there any regulation, any law that keeps them from doing this? Because the last thing somebody wants if they just got hit by a big tornado or big hurricane, on top of all of this, now I got to deal with a rate increase. Is there anything to keep them from doing this?

ANDERSON: They have to do this with certain things. And so, that's why they have to be approved with the state insurance authorities. And so, they're going to submit that. But as long as they submit that and get it approved, I mean, it's OK to do. So, you just got to watch out.

HOLMES: Very good information this morning, timely as well.

Clyde Anderson, always good to see you my friend.

ANDERSON: My pleasure. Good to be here.

HOLMES: All right. Quick break and we're right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HOLMES: All right. A lot of people struggling with unemployment. So, what exactly happens to your health care when you're out of work? Dr. Sanjay Gupta is taking look. Plus, he's on the set of "Contagion."

I, of course, will be back at the top of the hour with more live news. But, right now, time for the good doctor.