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One Dead, Two Injured After Police Helicopter & Plane Collide; USS Washington Arrives in Middle East to Relieve USS Lincoln; ICE Detains Captain of Boat That Capsized in New York Harbor; Convicted Mushroom Murderer Pushing for Retrial; Five Americans Among Seven Killed in Safari Helicopter Crash in Kenya; Prince Harry and Meghan to Move Back to Britain. Aired 1:30-2p ET

Aired August 20, 2026 - 13:30   ET

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

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[13:34:11]

BORIS SANCHEZ, CNN CO-ANCHOR OF "CNN NEWS CENTRAL": Federal officials are investigating a collision between a state police helicopter and small plane that killed a pilot and injured two officers.

This happened in rural Pennsylvania late yesterday. Officials say that initially the two officers were trapped inside the mangled helicopter until one of them was able to push out a broken window and pull out their partner. CNN Aviation Correspondent, Pete Muntean is here.

Pete, how did this happen?

PETE MUNTEAN, CNN AVIATION CORRESPONDENT: Well, the National Transportation Safety Board will likely give a briefing on this soon. And they'll have a lot to dig into here. Because even though Pennsylvania State Police maintains that their pilots weren't at fault here, here's the latest from the state police commissioner.

He says this happened just a few feet above the runway. At the scene, you can see the tail boom of the Pennsylvania State Police Bell 407 helicopter sheared off completely. The fuselage there sitting in that grassy area, just next to the runway.

[13:35:00]

Not much visible at the scene of the other aircraft. A Cessna 150, a little two-seat airplane used often for flight training. Flight tracking data appears to show the Cessna was coming in to land just as the helicopter was sitting down there at the Carlisle Airport. State police say the Cessna hit their helicopter from behind.

This crash took place at the airport in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. Flight tracking data shows the helicopter left a state police hangar west of Harrisburg about 20 minutes before the crash. The helicopter then made what's called a straight-in approach to the runway in Carlisle, a practice that's historically been shown to create the risk of a midair collision. No control tower at the airport. It's not busy enough. That also means there's no early air traffic control audio. So right now, it's unclear if the pilots were announcing their positions to one another over the radio. That's the standard practice when there is no control tower. Here's how the Pennsylvania State Police Commissioner described this crash.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LT. COL. GEORGE BIVENS, PENNSYLVANIA STATE POLICE ACTING COMMISSIONER: The pilots would not have been able to even see that airplane approaching them. It hit the rear tail rotor and went into the main rotor of the helicopter, resulting in a very violent crash.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MUNTEAN: Of course, investigators will want to know if both aircraft were transmitting and receiving anti-collision data called ADS-B. FAA rules do not require it at the Carlisle Airport, and the NTSB has been pushing Congress to mandate ADS-B in more airspace ever since last year's midair collision near Reagan National Airport involving an Army Black Hawk helicopter --

SANCHEZ: Yeah.

MUNTEAN: -- and an American Airlines regional jet.

SANCHEZ: We're obviously sensitive to that kind of collision here in D.C. --

MUNTEAN: Yeah.

SANCHEZ: -- because of what happened. I wonder, are incidents like these happening more often, or is it simply that because there was such a recent and publicized one that we're more sensitive to or pay more attention to?

MUNTEAN: This one is definitely notable, considering the fact that it involves a state police helicopter. Midair collisions are quite, quite rare, and they happen with not much regularity. It is a risk, especially in general aviation, small airplane flying, the type of flying that I do. It's much less of a risk in commercial flying.

So if you're buying a ticket on a commercial airliner, that's probably not something you're really going to be exposed to. But, of course, when it happens involving dozens and dozens of people on a commercial flight, the push is to minimize that risk because it involves so many people.

So we'll see here if Congress really makes some significant changes when it comes to mandating these ADS-B in-and-out rules in more and more places, which could mitigate another incident like this.

SANCHEZ: Yeah, especially at smaller airports.

MUNTEAN: No doubt. SANCHEZ: Pete Muntean, thank you so much.

MUNTEAN: Anytime.

SANCHEZ: Erica?

ERICA HILL, CNN CO-ANCHOR OF "CNN NEWS CENTRAL": Central Command says the USS George Washington carrier group has now arrived in the Middle East, where it will relieve the crew of the USS Abraham Lincoln. They, of course, have been at sea for months at this point, longer than they had initially thought they would be.

One person on board the Lincoln telling CNN it feels like the day before Christmas on board the ship. This, of course, after reports of deteriorating living conditions and worsening mental health aboard that ship for some sailors during this record-breaking deployment. CNN's Zach Cohen has been following these developments, joins me now.

So a majority of this crew has now been at sea for, what, nearly nine months. Do we know when and where they'll be able to dock and when they'll be off that ship?

ZACHARY COHEN, CNN SENIOR NATIONAL SECURITY REPORTER: Yeah, the USS Abraham Lincoln is presumably heading back to its home port in California, a journey that, by the time it arrives, will have resulted in the longest potentially deployment on record since the Vietnam War. Now, that's a record that was only set a few months ago by another aircraft carrier in the U.S. fleet, the USS Gerald R. Ford, which was deployed for 326 days.

So there is an expectation that Lincoln could break that record. And it's also part of a pattern, though, that we've seen from the Navy in recent years, where they're asking these carrier strike groups to deploy beyond the recommended seven-month stint that the Navy ultimately recommends these carrier groups are out at sea.

And it's particularly troubling because we know, especially for the Lincoln and also the Ford, the high tempo of combat operations that these ships are -- carrying out while they're deployed is only adding to concerns about the strain it puts on both the ship, its aircraft, and the sailors on board. And that was obviously true for the USS Abe Lincoln.

We heard reports about the deteriorating living conditions, but also mental health concerns of the sailors there. And it was, even though the Pentagon and the White House have downplayed its impact on this decision to relieve the ship at this time, it was a factor in the USS George Washington being brought over from its home port in Japan to sort of fill that gap.

And it's worth noting too that once the Abe Lincoln does arrive back home in California, at least for several weeks, the U.S. will only have two of its 11 aircraft carriers deployed at this time. That's until the USS Theodore Roosevelt can deploy, but that's not until September. So there is this concern about the strain on the fleet itself -- HILL: Yeah.

COHEN: -- especially going forward.

HILL: Well, and there's also, there are questions, too, about the Pacific, right? So the fact that the George Washington left that area, that means there is no U.S. aircraft carrier, correct, in the Pacific, in that region? We're talking about the South China Sea. Why is it important to have a presence there?

COHEN: Absolutely. I mean, aircraft carriers are how the U.S. Navy projects power and how the U.S. military projects power.

[13:40:00]

And it's, the Pacific is a key region, according to the Pentagon's own national defense strategy, a key region where the U.S. wants to assert itself, and particularly assert itself to deter China from potentially trying to continue to creep in its sphere of influence, expand its sphere of influence, and potentially accomplish its stated goal of invading Taiwan sometime before 2027.

Now, the Chinese have taken notice that the U.S. aircraft carrier that was there, the Washington, has left the region, saying it's actually a sign to countries in the Pacific that U.S. security commitments are only -- can only go so far and they have their own limits. So it'll be something to watch for sure going forward.

HILL: Yeah, absolutely. Zach, appreciate it. Thank you.

Still ahead here, a surprise announcement from the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. They are moving back to Britain, but will they be welcomed with open arms?

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[13:45:14]

SANCHEZ: Now to some of the other headlines we're watching this hour. Officials say that ICE has detained the captain of that boat that capsized in New York Harbor killing a mom and her baby earlier this month. Homeland Security says Manuel Ernesto Hernandez-Umana is now in ICE custody.

He was arrested after the boat he was piloting capsized near the Statue of Liberty with 14 on board. DHS is alleging that Hernandez- Umana was unlawfully in the United States and that he could be deported after any criminal proceedings.

Also, the Australian woman convicted of murdering her in-laws by lacing their meal with toxic death cap mushrooms is pushing for a retrial. Erin Patterson's lawyers are appealing on several grounds, including the jury being housed in the same hotel as prosecutors and an informant.

The court is also considering a separate appeal from the prosecution, who say that Patterson's sentence of 33 years with no parole isn't long enough. A decision will be handed down at a later date.

And seven people, including five Americans, have been killed after the safari helicopter they were riding in crashed in Kenya. It happened in Samburu County, a popular tourist destination with private wildlife conservancies and remote landscape. The country's civil aviation agency said the cause of the crash has not been determined and investigation is currently underway.

Among the passengers was a veteran T.V. news executive, Jose Suarez, who spent two decades in leadership roles at both NBC and Telemundo. He's actually someone who I crossed paths with early on in my career, and he was a friend of mine. He's being remembered by colleagues in Florida as a visionary in both English and Spanish language television. May his memory and all those on board be a blessing.

Right now, we're awaiting a rare appearance from the first lady. We're heading live to the White House right after this. Stay with us.

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[13:51:41]

SANCHEZ: First Lady Melania Trump is just moments away from making her first public appearance in weeks. She's appearing alongside the president in the White House Rose Garden where she's expected to unveil new scholarship opportunities for young adults transitioning out of foster care.

CNN's Betsy Klein joins us now. And Betsy, this will mark the first time the first lady has been seen in public since the World Cup.

BETSY KLEIN, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE REPORTER: That's right, Boris. First Lady Melania Trump, just about an hour from now, will be in the Rose Garden for this event that marks her first public appearance since the World Cup a month ago on July 19th. And she's going to be unveiling this new scholarship opportunity for children who are aging out of the foster care system.

This rare public appearance really underscores how the first lady has been picking and choosing her moments in her husband's second term. We haven't seen her take on some of the more expected traditional roles of a first lady. At the same time, behind the scenes, she is working on more substantive policy work.

So, for example, in the last couple of weeks during her absence, she missed the White House Correspondents' Dinner along with a dignified transfer at Dover Air Force Base, as well as the funeral of the president's close friend, Senator Lindsey Graham. But behind the scenes, her and her team are building a more focused policy operation than her first term with a focus on her Fostering The Future initiative aimed at children in the foster care system and children aging out.

Now, the first lady has been spending most of her time at her Bedminster Resort away from the White House, where here it's an active construction site. You can see the tarp behind me and all of the loud noise throughout the day. But there are 400,000 American children in the foster care system. About one in five is expected to experience homelessness upon aging out.

So one senior administration official tells me that the first lady has really been thinking about legacy and she's looking to make tangible change. So we are seeing that as she is pushing for an executive order that was signed by President Trump last year that has spurred some action in the states that we're just starting to see.

She has also debuted an IRA-style savings account for children in the foster care system. She secured a $25 million investment. She's advocating for reform legislation. But I spoke with experts who generally applaud Melania Trump's advocacy in this space. However, some have warned that the administration's policies aimed at making cuts to the social safety net are undermining the overall effect of that work, Boris.

SANCHEZ: Betsy Klein, live for us at the White House, thank you so much for that. Erica?

HILL: The Duke of Dutchess of Sussex are heading back to Britain in a surprise move. We've learned that they will be there in time for Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet to start school next month. The imminent move raising questions about security, which has been a years-long battle between Prince Harry and the British government. Here's Harry talking about that just last year.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

PRINCE HARRY, DUKE OF SUSSEX: I can't see a world in which I would be bringing my wife and children back to the U.K. at this point. And the things that they're going to miss is, well, everything. I love my country. I always have done. Despite what some people in that country have done. I would love reconciliation with my family. I've always -- I've -- there's no point in continuing to fight anymore.

As I said, life is precious. I don't know how much longer my father has.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

[13:55:00]

HILL: So the move also raising questions about the public reception the couple could receive. When they left the U.K. six years ago, they certainly did not go quietly, detailing their falling out with members of the royal family in an explosive sit-down with Oprah Winfrey, a Netflix series, and of course, in Prince Harry's tell-all memoir.

Joining me now, Trisha Goddard, Host of "The Trisha Goddard Show." Trisha, it's good to have you with us today. I want to start on that security issue, right? So we just heard Harry talking about that. The U.K.'s prime minister was just asked earlier today about security for Harry and Meghan by a reporter who said, hey, they're moving back. What about security? He said it is a "private matter" and that he wishes them well with their return. Do you think anything has changed in that respect when it comes to security?

TRISHA GODDARD, HOST OF "THE TRISHA GODDARD SHOW": I definitely think it has because, previously, a lot of the conversation was around security for Harry when he was on his own. There has been word from police that should Harry bring the whole family back, and it has been ascertained in the past that there was credible threats against them, that changes the whole picture.

And I think a lot changed because here's the thing that everybody is forgetting. The last visit -- the last time the whole family was in the U.K. just a few weeks ago, nobody knew about it. The press didn't know. It was hush-hush. Not until they'd been, they'd spent time at Althorp, which is Princess Diana's family's home.

They actually had a sit-down close face-to-face meeting with the king and Queen Camilla at Highgrove, his base, nobody knew about it. So I think that bodes well, and I think that tells the king that some things can be done quietly.

So I really do think the dial must have moved somehow if this is going to take place.

HILL: The big question, I think, on most people's minds this morning is why? Why now? Why are they going back? Do we have any more clarity today on the reasoning?

GODDARD: No, not at this point, but I really think it's probably a perfect storm of whatever's happening in the U.S. for the family. As you know, it's no secret that Prince Harry doesn't think the world of Donald Trump. Let's leave it at that. Also, here's the reality between Britain and England. In the U.K., we don't have active shooter drills.

We don't have book bans. We don't have a lot of things that I know that Prince Harry would appreciate about the British school system at the moment, and I'm sure that's something he's really thinking about. He did say as well when he was chatting to Joss Stone, the singer, last year at the World Trump Awards, you know, talking about the importance of community and how much he loved the British schooling system.

So, you know, with the benefit of hindsight, when we look back, I think this has probably been in the back of Harry's mind for quite some time.

HILL: It's also impossible to ignore, of course, his father is living with cancer, right? And we're told that King Charles was told on Sunday, happy to have his grandkids closer. It seems like there is a real potential for reconciliation there. We have not heard anything from Will and Kate's camp. How much chance is there, do you think, that that relationship can be repaired?

GODDARD: Well, I think, and you touched upon it and you're absolutely right, as I know personally, living with cancer. Meeting somebody face-to-face and seeing somebody through a screen is very different. I mean, it has been reported that King Charles uses makeup, as do I, to cover a lot of the effects of chemo and so on.

So, Harry would have seen his father face-to-face, probably without all of those things, and I'm sure that makes a difference. Now, with William and Catherine, yeah, with William, I think things probably got a lot frostier than they were with his father.

However, we have to remember that Catherine herself has been through cancer, and it often changes one's mind. So, you don't focus so much on the trivia. Who knows? But I think it all starts with his father, and, you know, if his father is willing to embrace him, although obviously William is king in waiting, it may put a bit more pressure on William to soften his heart.

We'll have to wait and see.

HILL: Yeah. It'll be interesting to see, too, the reception. I know, obviously, a buzz in the U.K., but interesting to see the reception once they arrive as well. Trisha, great to see you. Thank you.

GODDARD: You too.

HILL: A new hour of "CNN News Central" starts right now.