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Israel Eases Restrictions on Gaza Aid After Global Outcry; Passengers Forced to Evacuate American Airlines Jet After Aborted Takeoff; Detective Details Phone App Notes, Diary Entries in James Craig Trial; Walking Daily Can Reduce Risk of Alzheimer's Disease. Aired 3:30-4p ET
Aired July 28, 2025 - 15:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[15:30:00]
JEREMY DIAMOND, CNN JERUSALEM CORRESPONDENT: ... is sustained going forward. But it's also really important to note that these tactical pauses, these safe corridors that Israel now says they are establishing, they could have done this weeks ago. They could have done this months ago because these are the exact kind of steps that humanitarian aid organizations have been calling on Israel to do. It's the steps that could have been taken to avert the 77 deaths due to malnutrition that we have seen in Gaza just this month alone.
And so the very fact that Israel is now taking these steps, lifting previous restrictions, making it easier for humanitarian aid organizations to deliver aid in the Gaza Strip, simply proves the fact that they were restricting the flow of aid and the distribution of aid in Gaza previously, something that Israel has denied, but over 100 humanitarian aid organizations and dozens of Western countries have made very clear is due to Israeli policies.
Ultimately, we will have to see how long this is sustained, because Gaza is going to need a lot more than just 100 trucks of aid a day. They are going to need hundreds of trucks of aid a day for a sustained period of time before the starvation crisis currently gripping the Gaza Strip can even begin to be alleviated.
And what we are also seeing with these aid distributions is because so little aid has gotten into Gaza for so long, many of these aid trucks are getting looted by crowds of desperate and hungry Palestinians. That often means that, you know, the most vulnerable, the weakest of society are often the last ones to actually get their hands on that aid.
And so that is why we are hearing everyone now talking about the need to surge humanitarian aid in Gaza in very large amounts and for there to be some consistency around that aid distribution so that the entire population can benefit -- Boris.
BORIS SANCHEZ, CNN HOST: Jeremy Diamond reporting from Jerusalem. Thank you so much.
Still to come, we have new details about a dramatic emergency evacuation of an airliner on fire at the Denver airport. Hear the message that air traffic controllers had for the pilot of this plane as passengers were evacuating.
[15:35:00]
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BRIANNA KEILAR, CNN HOST: The FAA is investigating why a plane caught on fire on runway at Denver International Airport, forcing frightened passengers to evacuate more than 150 people on board an American Airlines jet leaving for Miami, Saturday, were forced to slide down those escape chutes after the pilot aborted the takeoff. Passengers could see smoke and flames coming from underneath the plane as they got off.
SANCHEZ: Many said that they heard a pop and then felt the jet start to vibrate and shake violently before it tilted to the side of the runway. We understand that one person suffered a minor injury. Listen to this message from air traffic control to one of the pilots on the plane.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL: American 3023, there was some flames. Looks like the smoke's kind of dying down a bit. And you are actually on fire.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SANCHEZ: You're actually on fire. Let's get more from CNN aviation correspondent Pete Muntean. Pete, a popping noise and then vibrating. Never something you want to hear.
PETE MUNTEAN, CNN AVIATION CORRESPONDENT: A bad day when ATC tells you that your airplane is on fire and the new insights from air traffic control audio. This evacuation that took place while this flight was still on the runway. Good job and hats off to the pilots for ordering this evacuation, the flight attendants for executing it and the airport firefighting crews for responding here.
We know now that American Airlines flight 3023 was lined up to take off on Denver's runway 34 left. Plane reached about 130 miles per hour according to publicly available data from ADSB exchange. That's pretty fast, just shy of flying speed and that's when the pilots radioed that they were aborting the takeoff.
You can listen to the air traffic control recording continued here and you can hear one side of the exchange of the controllers in the Denver tower who said they saw flames coming from the plane. Listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TOWER: Air 3023, I do see an active flame. It's smaller than it was. TOWER: Air 3023, the fire trucks are leaving the station now they
should be there in about one minute.
TOWER: American 3023, I am still seeing fire. OPERATIONS 11: Fire on the left side.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MUNTEAN: The video shows one key takeaway here for passengers. Many of those going down the slides there are taking their bags with them. That is a thing you never want to do because it slows the evacuation down.
It's really critical in a fire, especially when seconds count. And there have been cases where people getting their bags has led to other passengers getting trapped and killed.
Questions still emerging here.
How did this happen? Airport fire crews in Denver tell CNN that a tire burst causing the brakes on the plane to catch fire on that left main landing gear. Other reports say the left main landing gear collapsed entirely. American Airlines though is calling this a maintenance issue.
This is the second incident this year involving American Airlines 737 on fire in Denver. There was that dramatic evacuation onto the wing back in March when an engine caught fire. One plane was at the gate having just landed and taxied in.
KEILAR: That is so scary watching them go down that slide. I'm like anxious every time I see the video.
MUNTEAN: It's incredible how effective an evacuation is and how quickly people can get off the plane. The goal is to do it in under 90 seconds or less.
[15:40:00]
KEILAR: Yes.
MUNTEAN: But the real thing here is that time is never on your side, especially when there is a fire like this. On the grand scale of 1 to 10 severity on a plane crash or an incident like this, a fire is like an 11. So you need to get out really quickly. It's important to leave your stuff behind.
SANCHEZ: Leave the bag on the plane.
MUNTEAN: Yes.
SANCHEZ: And Pete, quickly, there was another incident at Southwest Airlines in Southern California. Tell us about that.
MUNTEAN: Yes, this happened on a flight -- a Southwest flight leaving Burbank, going to Las Vegas. And there was what's called a TCAS resolution advisory, traffic collision avoidance system resolution advisory for a private fighter jet, a vintage fighter jet nearby.
It sounds like the closure rates are what caused that alarm to go off. You can see the paths there on FlightAware. It might have not been all that close. It might have just been the system interpolating the rates of these two planes coming together quite quickly. But it seems like there was a bit of a climb and a quick descent by the pilots of that Southwest flight, what caused a jolt for passengers on board. Thankfully, nobody seriously hurt in that incident.
KEILAR: All right, Pete, thank you so much. And still to come, the latest in the Colorado protein shake murder trial, what detectives say Angela Craig wrote in her diary before she died.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KEILAR: We do have an update on our breaking news out of Reno, which is where a gunman opened fire this morning at a resort and casino, killing -- injuring multiple people we've learned. A law enforcement source and local health official telling CNN that two people died as well.
SANCHEZ: Yes, but now we've learned from Reno police spokesperson Chris Johnson that those numbers are inaccurate, though they declined to provide additional information on injuries. So we're still working to confirm exactly what the extent of the damage was.
The alleged gunman who is now in police custody was also injured, we understand, and transported to a hospital. His motive is being investigated, and investigators are speaking to the subject. The victims do not appear to be connected at this point. We are anticipating a news conference that is set for 3 p.m. Pacific time. We'll, of course, bring you the latest on that as we get it.
Today in the James Craig murder trial, detailed diary entries and phone app notes. Craig, of course, is the Colorado dentist accused of killing his wife by poisoning her protein shakes.
He's also charged with solicitation to commit murder, solicitation to commit tampering with evidence, and solicitation to commit perjury.
Right now, detective Bobby Olson is back on the stand going through the search history found on Craig's laptop. Let's get the latest from CNN's Jean Casarez, who's closely been following this trial.
Jean, take us through what we've learned from Angela Craig's diary entry.
JEAN CASAREZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, well, this is the lead investigator that's on the stand, but the defense has managed on cross-examination, which they're in right now, to turn this around to the defense theory that Angela Craig took her own life. And here is one of her entries, beginning in 2009, in a diary, her journal that they found in a storage unit after she was dead.
She writes in 2009, I feel so lost and so alone. The further into the process we get, the less able I feel to forgive. I looked at Jim today and I couldn't feel any love. I feel abused, worthless, unwanted, and unloved. Where do I find myself? Then she goes on to say, He loves me. How could he do this to me if he
really loves me? He doesn't think I'm good enough. He doesn't want me. He'd rather be with someone else.
They keep going until 2018.
All I want to do when that happens is crawl into bed and cry myself to sleep. I haven't figured out yet if I should give in or push through.
James Craig, by his own word, has had multiple affairs throughout the entire marriage. And that's what she's referring to right here. And that's the theory of why she wanted to commit suicide.
Now, on the other side, James Craig wrote a timeline of the events surrounding his wife's death. He wrote it March 16th, right after one o'clock in the morning. And it was just hours before that, that his business partner, fellow dentist, found out potassium cyanide, went to the dental office.
He told the nurses and they called the police. And James Craig found out about this. Then he writes this.
All right, let's go to the first one.
She said she was just going to end her life. I begged her not to do that, but she said she couldn't get a divorce.
Then he writes, At this point, I had a change of heart. I was no longer going to try to back her out of it.
He also writes that he researched so many poisons that she wanted to take. She was directing him. And he said to her, look, I will get these poisons, but I'm not going to administer them. You've got to do it yourself. I will only go so far, but I won't stop you.
SANCHEZ: Wow, an unexpected course there for the defense. Jean Casarez, we'll see how it plays with the jury.
Still to come, encouraging new research that shows how a simple exercise can decrease your risk of Alzheimer's disease.
We'll be right back.
[15:50:00]
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KEILAR: New today, if you're worried about getting Alzheimer's disease, you may want to start by taking more steps each day. There's a new study that shows walking daily can help protect you against cognitive decline. That's especially true if you have a genetic predisposition to the disease.
This study looked at nearly 3,000 patients in their 70s over the course of 10 years. We have CNN health reporter Jacqueline Howard looking at more on this study and what else you can do to prevent decline.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JACQUELINE HOWARD, CNN HEALTH REPORTER: Walking has long been connected with health benefits, including cognitive benefits. And now this new research it's being presented at the Alzheimer's Association International Conference. It includes data on nearly 3,000 adults.
And it found that walking had a protective benefit against cognitive decline, especially in people with an APOE4 genetic variant. That's a genetic variant that's associated with an increased risk of Alzheimer's. So greater walking was tied to slower decline in people carrying this genetic variant.
[15:55:00]
And this association was slightly greater among Black adults compared with white adults. So walking may have a slightly greater benefit for the black community.
But overall, this is an important message for people carrying a genetic risk factor tied to Alzheimer's disease. And it's estimated that at least one in five people are carrying a genetic variant that's associated with an increased risk for Alzheimer's.
But even if you have this genetic risk factor, staying physically active is one thing you can do to reduce your risk. Some other things to consider. Prevent diabetes or manage it if you've been diagnosed. Watch your blood pressure. Prevent or correct hearing loss. Limit your alcohol intake. Don't smoke. Those are all ways to help keep your brain healthy as you age.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KEILAR: All right, Jacqueline, thank you for that.
Still to come, a popular coastal resort town is issuing a stern warning to visitors. We're going to tell you what it is next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KEILAR: One French town says they have seen too much. Authorities in Les Sables d'Olonne have announced fines for anyone found walking around town topless or in their swimsuit. Scantily clad on the beach, that's no problem. But the town wants people to save that look for the sand and the sand only.
Mayor Yannick Moreau railing on Facebook against those strutting around half naked and criticize the indecent behavior saying in part, If you want to show off your pecs and your best swimming shorts, there are 11 kilometers of beach at your disposal. and decent behavior.
SANCHEZ: Indecent behavior. Yikes.
His post featured this poster announcing the $175 fine and the tagline in Les Sables d'Olonne -- respect doesn't go on holiday. He also called on local police to enforce the rule, which already applies to entering shops and markets. Some residents are praising the mayor's move, saying they are sick of seeing so much skin around town.
KEILAR: Wow. France. France is -- yes. Is that what you like? Those you want to --
[16:00:00]
SANCHEZ: I wear swim trunks just about everywhere. Not here in D.C.
KEILAR: But you go into the grocery store.
SANCHEZ: One hundred percent in flip flops, tank top, yes.
KEILAR: No, you don't.
SANCHEZ: Yes, absolutely. Absolutely do.
KEILAR: Without your shirt on.
SANCHEZ: Maybe a tank top.
KEILAR: Well, yes, I think that's that's like all right.
SANCHEZ: But like --
KEILAR: Look at the picture.
SANCHEZ: -- too short?
KEILAR: No, put the picture back up, you guys. Put the picture back up real quick.
SANCHEZ: No, I don't buy this.
KEILAR: No, no, not of that picture. The one with the people not wearing enough.
SANCHEZ: They're messing with us.
KEILAR: There we go.
SANCHEZ: They're going to say the name of this town.
KEILAR: That is not what you're rolling into.
SANCHEZ: I'll pull up in a public --
KEILAR: Public no, no, no, no, no.
"THE ARENA" with Kasie Hunt starts right now.
SANCHEZ: Cool hat. He's got a cool hat.
END
