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Connect the World
Hezbollah Chief Calls Beirut Explosion "Disastrous"; CNN Talks To Lebanese MP Gebran Bassil; Bahaa Hariri: We Need International Investigation Immediately; Mega Explosion Killed At Least 154, Injured 5,000 Others; Popular Lebanese Singer Responds To Explosion; At Least Three Dead After Plane Overshoots Runway In India. Aired 11a-12p ET
Aired August 07, 2020 - 11:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[11:00:00]
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BECKY ANDERSON, CNN HOST, CONNECT THE WORLD: Welcome back. You're watching "Connect the World." Lebanon cleaning up today and trying to return to some
semblance of normal as its President says there is a possibility the devastating explosion on Tuesday was no accident.
Michel Aoun tweeting just in the past few hours that investigator will look to see if a missile or a bomb was responsible for the blast. Well, the
government is already pointing fingers of blame, detaining 16 port workers and freezing their accounts of the Port Director and others despite
documents showing that the government ignored repeated warnings for years about the explosives materials stored at the port's warehouse.
Well, the death toll from the explosion has risen to 154 and that number is sure to rise again. The Health Minister says among the thousands injured,
120 people remain in critical condition and many others are still missing. I want to bring in Ben Wedeman who is live for us in Beirut. Ben?
BEN WEDEMAN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Becky, well, after we spoke to the Gebran Bassil the Former Foreign Minister of Lebanon,
we now have on the air here in Lebanon Syed Hassan Nasarallah the Secretary General of Hezbollah who many people have pointed fingers of accusation in
the direction of that group believing that or claiming that for instance, the group in some way controls the port, that for some reason it is to
blame indirectly for that explosion that took place Tuesday evening.
Now, Nasarallah did categorically deny any connection with whatever was in that port. He said that Hezbollah did not have a missile or a bullet there.
And so definitely hearing from him, the leader of one of the most powerful parts of the ruling coalition in this government, is something people were
waiting for.
In fact, interestingly enough, just as I was getting off with you in the last hour, and he was about to speak, we did hear some gunfire in the
neighborhood nearby where there are Hezbollah supporters, apparently celebratory gunfire that the man they see as their leader had come out and
spoken.
And so therefore the fallout continues with this blast that as you said, killed at least 154 people, wounded more than 5,000. Now, we had the
opportunity today to go to one of the hospitals that had to deal with at least 200 of those who were injured.
And we saw that there are parts of Lebanon, even this state hospital, the Rafik Hariri University hospital and other hospitals here in Beirut that do
function well that are staffed by well-meaning people who are trying to do their best under difficult circumstances with an economic collapse afoot,
with yesterday 255 new cases of Coronavirus, the highest daily increase there.
[11:05:00]
WEDEMAN: But these people are trying to do their best under very difficult circumstances. Like any anxious father about to be - wanted to capture
every moment but not this. All the horror of Tuesday's explosion converged on Beirut's hospitals, overwhelmed by thousands of wounded, many of the
injured had to be treated outside. Rula Altani was the Supervising Nurse that night at the Rafik Hariri University Hospital, who received about 200
wounded.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
RULA ALTANI, SUPERVISING NURSE, RAFIK HARRIRI UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL: Usually in the disaster, it was the longer you know its two hours, maybe. Rush
hours you work hardly. It never ends. This night was about 7:30, and it's 2:53 in the morning and I'm always working.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WEDEMAN: As he scrambled from one patient to another, this doctor was torn between duty and family. They were waiting to hear from me and me from
them, he recalls. Here I was busy treating the wounded. It was painful. The memories of that night remain vivid.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MUSTAFA KHALIFA, NURSE, ICRS: Usually a disaster you could manage, because your adrenaline level is so high, you will not fit but whenever you stop,
you will fall apart.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WEDEMAN: This is the main hospital treating COVID-19 patients in Beirut, with Lebanon an economic freefall and new Coronavirus cases hitting record
highs. Tuesday's blast brought home just how dire are Lebanon's prospects. Yet the hospital's Director General insists his staff must remain focused
on their calling.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DR. FIRASS ABIADD, GENERAL MANAGER, RAFIK HARIRI UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL: It's clear that we are, if not at, the breaking point, very much near it. But
somehow when you are staring into the abyss, you don't think about that. All of your concentration is I need to do more and more and more.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WEDEMAN: The explosion severely damaged many of the city's hospitals, forcing them to send patients to other facilities in Beirut and outside the
capital. One postscript, Ed and his wife Emanuel now have a baby, George. He is well.
What we're seeing here in Lebanon, as what we've seen for very long time Becky here in Lebanon is sort of juxtaposition between a dysfunctional
political leader, a dysfunctional government, and ordinary people who really go above and beyond when it comes to crises like this.
Now we spent two days in the - those neighborhoods next to the port which were most severely damaged and affected by that blast. And we saw hundreds
of thousands of people out there doing what they could with brooms and shovels, handing out water and sandwiches, providing medical care where it
was needed.
What was absent in the streets of those neighborhoods were any sort of official presence with the exception of the army, which was essentially
blocking traffic with their humvees, not really doing much. A few policemen we saw were sort of taking down notes of the damage to vehicles and houses.
But no actual assistance did we see was being provided to those in need except by ordinary citizens and local NGOs and some people who were handing
out aid provided by countries like Kuwait and the United Arab Emirate Emirates. So you see it all on display here Lebanon the good, the bad, and
the ugly. Becky?
ANDERSON: Ben Wedeman in Beirut for you. Well, last hour I spoke with Gebran Bassil who is the son-in-law of the President and a member of the
Lebanese Parliament representing the country's largest Christian Blackish Party (ph) is also an ally of Hezbollah.
I asked him if he and his party hold any responsibility at all for the dire situation that Lebanon finds themselves in. This is what he told me.
GEBRAN BASSIL, LEBANESE PARLIAMENT MEMBER: You know in Lebanon we have to understand this, the system, how it operates?
[11:10:00]
BASSIL: We are the biggest party or the biggest parliamentarian group, but we are only at 20 percent of the parliament. So we don't have the majority
nor on the parliament of the government. That's why have been fighting for things that are not achieved.
Of course, we have to bear our pair of the responsibility not being able to change, but not share the responsibility of the corruption because we are
anti-corruption. We are against the corruption. We pay the price, we pay the price, but we are a democratic country after all. We accept the
judgment of the people according to the election.
ANDERSON: Let me stop you there because one of the pillars of democracy, and you've just used the word, is accountability. If Lebanon is a
democratic system, those in a position of power should be expected to be held accountable for what happens. I put it to you again.
Are you not prepared and should not this government be prepared to be accountable for this incredible situation that the country finds itself in,
not least for it to be negligence that caused this explosion, but for the complete economic collapse of the country. Do you accept the fact that you
and your colleagues must be held accountable?
BASSIL: Everybody who has public responsibility should always be prepared for accountability. This is a matter of fact. But not to be guilty of
things that he is innocent from or vice versa. This is political. I, nor my party, have any direct involvement in neither what happened nor a direct
responsibility on the port or anything related to that.
Still we are saying that we should hold our responsibility if we don't follow this matter to the end the responsible people, not the innocent
people.
ANDERSON: That was Gebran Bassil speaking to me earlier. Let's get some perspective here. What happens next in Lebanon? When will we discover what
happened at the port and why that massive haul of ammonium nitrate was being kept there? And where are Lebanon's politics headed next?
We're now joined by Bahaa Hariri, who is a Member of one of Lebanon's most prominent family he is both the son and brother of past Prime Ministers.
We'll talk about your political aspirations a little later, but I know that you have called for an international investigation, sir, into the explosion
that has caused such devastation. Why?
BAHAA HARIRI, SON OF SLAIN LEBANESE PRIME MINISTER RAFIK HARIRI: First, I would like to give my deepest condolences to the families who lost their
loved ones, Becky, also my colleagues.
ANDERSON: Of course.
HARIRI: It is very hard to me because luckily my colleagues were safe from this horrific event, but at the same time, it is unfortunate to realize
that some of their members may not make it. Having said that, where do we go from here?
We have to make sure that we have an independent international investigation team that come immediately to Lebanon and investigate the
horrific accident. And there is a question that comes out in my mind is there any other spot that needs to be investigated?
The second is this symbiotic relation between Hezbollah and these warlords who have taken us from the good to a bad to the abyss today and then look
what happened in Beirut? This regime must go.
And finally, we all know who controlled the port. This combustible material, it was there for over six years, Becky. So Hezbollah - we know
who controlled the port, Hezbollah controlled the port, and there are serious questions that must be answered.
ANDERSON: Well, the President has just tweeted about the possibility of an international investigation, and he has called it a waste of time, your
response?
Sorry, sir, he goes on to say that it would be a waste of time given that past investigations - and let's include that of your father - your father
was killed in 2005, a judgment for which was only due this week - so he says these investigations take way too long and are a waste of time. Sorry,
your response.
[11:15:00]
HARIRI: Becky, we know the international system. There is a big difference between an expedited investigation and a jury that comes and investigates
the murder of Rafik Hariri. Once we have people underground, I'm not saying it will take days, but I'm pretty sure such types of investigations that
we've seen before, it takes months if it's not expedited, and it should be under the United Nations.
As for the other public investigation, yes, I believe fully in the investigation system that started within the - and then the doctor trial
and the hate trial that throw people to justice. This is something I truly believe and this is something we need to truly differentiate.
ANDERSON: Sir as you and I have been speaking, Hassan Nasarallah the Head or the Chief of Hezbollah, has been speaking and my producers have been
monitoring what he has been saying, and so I must put this to you, because you have pointed the finger of blame at Hezbollah.
On those claims that Hezbollah is responsible for what happened at the port, it's Chief said, and I just want to quote this to you, I would like
to reiterate absolute denial. There isn't anything, no rifle, no bomb, no bullet, no rocket, nothing at all, no storage or otherwise, not now or ever
in the past, he said, alluding to claims that Hezbollah controlled or had influence at the port, your response?
HARRIRI: My response, Becky, is that we are in a good situation now. We have total utter financial collapse, total utter economic collapse, the
symbiotic relationship - as it as where we are. And the question is, is this the last one?
I'm having sleepless nights over thinking about it. So to me I believe that in life there has to be credibility. Look where we are now, 15 years. We
were close to taking Lebanon from a country to a nation, and where are we today?
So I'm not speculating, I'm not accusing anyone, I'm just calling for an international investigation team that comes and expedite the process and
shed light to this horrific event.
ANDERSON: In a recent interview, you said Lebanon has to maintain its balance. It can either survive and prosper or collapse and fail. Political
parties have turned into legions occupying the state. The President does not wish to provoke Hezbollah, and by giving in, he is demeaning the
presidency. Can you explain what you meant?
HARIRI: What I meant is Lebanon is based on confessional configuration. We cannot live under a situation today where we are completely under the
control, to a certain point, of Hezbollah. We have a President that believes that Hezbollah is - and I'm not a person who seeks a hard line
position.
But my position today is because of where we are it's because of where the nation is. And I believe that, like you said, there has to be a
responsibility, and we are in a situation where everybody is trying to be, at best, accommodative to Hezbollah's situation.
ANDERSON: Sir, what are your political aspirations?
HARIRI: I want to say that I talked to the patriarchs and I truly support the neutrality of Lebanon. I would add to this that Lebanon has to go from
a country to a nation, Becky. What I mean by that is go from this confessional situation to democratic. This is my aspiration. At the end,
it's bigger than all of us.
ANDERSON: Yes, and I think, quite frankly, that really does beg this final question. What is next, sir? What is next for Lebanon? We've had the visit
of the French President who has demanded that there be reform. He said, there will be no blank check, and he says he's back on September the 1st to
effectively see what's been achieved. What is next?
[11:20:00]
HARIRI: What is next is that this government has to go. It must go now. From there on, we need neutrality, a government that has a neutral
position, and hopefully we take it on. But also we're in a situation Becky, we need to mourn the death, we have 5,000 wounded.
I'm overtaken by this situation, what happened this week. I have been in politics for 15 years. What happened the last few months is inconceivable.
So we have to take it one step at a time, and it's overwhelming, as you know, to all of us, and I want to commend you for your report you did - I
was watching it, so I wanted to commend you for the report you did. Thank you. I really want to thank you.
ANDERSON: Thank you. That's very kind, and we are doing our job, and we will continue to do our jobs. Thank you, sir pleasure having you on. Still
ahead, much more from Lebanon, because for all the anger there is still a search for answers, how did this even happen in the first place? The latest
on the investigation is coming up.
And Africa has reported its 1 millionth case. We'll bring you the view from Africa which has recorded all Coronavirus confirmed cases on the continent.
Plus, we will show you how one country is hoping to get tourism back on its feet while not letting COVID-19 spread. That's after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: It is 23 minutes past 7:00 here in the UAE. This is "Connect the World" from your Middle East Broadcasting Hub here in Abu Dhabi. More now
on our top story, the investigation into the Beirut blast that took 154 lives and left hundreds of thousands of people homeless, Lebanon's
President is expanding the probe saying there is possibility of external interference.
This comes as the people of Lebanon's Capital City grow angrier at the government as they look to one another to clean up after Tuesday's massive
explosion. And CNN has learned that bank accounts of both the Port Director and the Customs Chief have now been frozen. We now know tons of hazardous
material was stashed near the port for years.
The Coronavirus continues to spread, meantime, across the world Peru, Colombia, Argentina all reporting their highest number in total cases since
the pandemic began. And India just reached 2 million total infections.
[11:25:00]
ANDERSON: The U.S. says the total death count there could reach 160,000 by September. And Africa as a continent has officially recorded more than a
million cases. In the last month cases have doubled across the African Continent leaving the WHO to warn against easing restrictions any time
soon. Well, South Africa currently accounts for more than half of those confirmed cases. CNN's David McKenzie is in Johannesburg with more.
DAVID MCKENZIE, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Now crossing that 1 million mark for confirmed COVID-19 cases is certainly significant, but the
W.H.O. says the actual number of cases across Africa is likely to be much, much higher because of a lack of testing.
They say that this lack of testing is a constant and concerning challenge. They're working to increase testing in many countries. South Africa is a
country with robust testing. More than half of that million are confirmed cases from this country.
The country is in its surge right now. There is some good news, and three of the worst affected provinces, it appears, according to the Health
Minister, that infection rates are slowing. Nevertheless, the W.H.O. is sending in more than 40 health experts, a surge team, they call it, to help
the South African government.
They think perhaps the worst could be over in parts of this country but that behaviors like wearing masks will be critical to avoid a further
spike. David McKenzie, CNN, Johannesburg.
ANDERSON: While some places in Europe are beginning to experience their second wave, some countries are working to keep more cases from coming
across their borders. Germany is one of them, starting this weekend. It will require people arriving from countries deemed high risk to take COVID-
19 tests when they enter the country. CNN's Fred Pleitgen has more.
FREDERIK PLEITGEN, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: It's the new normal for anyone arriving at German airports. Get your suitcase and then get a
Coronavirus test. Toby Rosen just got back home to Berlin.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TOBY ROSEN, TRAVELER: The lines are pretty short. It's only like 30 minutes, and I think we get results in the next 24 hours.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PLEITGEN: Germany is offering all travelers arriving here free Coronavirus tests. And starting Saturday, people coming from high-risk areas will be
required to get tested on arrival. The German government says it doesn't want the situation here to deteriorate, for instance, the way it has in the
United States with tens of thousands of new cases every day.
That's why they're taking the drastic step of offering everyone who enters the country a Coronavirus test. Germany has the capacity for about 1.2
million tests per week, official data shows, and Berlin says the pandemic remains under control here.
There's only been one day with more than a thousand new infections in the past three months even as President Trump continues to falsely claim that
the U.S. is doing better than other countries like Germany.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: And if you look at deaths--
JONATHAN SWAN, CORRESPONDENT, AXIOS: It starts to go up again.
TRUMP: Here is one. Well, right here, United States is lowest in numerous categories. We're lower than the world.
SWAN: Lower than the world. What does that mean?
TRUMP: Lower than Europe.
SWAN: In what?
TRUMP: Take a look. Right here, here are case deaths.
SWAN: Oh, you're doing death as a proportion of cases. I'm talking about death as a proportion of the population. That's where the U.S. is really
bad, much worse than South Korea, Germany et cetera.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PLEITGEN: Johns Hopkins data shows that both South Korea and Germany in deed have a much lower of Coronavirus deaths per 100,000 residents. Today
Germany's Health Minister said the drastic increase in testing is part of a broad strategy to prevent new lockdowns and to save lives.
In my view it arises from an obligation for us as a society to look after and protect each other he says. And there are other strict measures in
place. Travelers from high-risk countries who are not residents of Europe are banned from coming here altogether. The U.S. is considered a high-risk
country with the Trump Administration still failing to contain the outbreak. Fred Pleitgen, CNN, Berlin.
ANDERSON: And some news just coming in to CNN. An India Express flight has skidded off the runway while acting at Calicut airport in India. We'll
bring you more on that as we get it. We'll take a very short break back after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[11:30:00]
ANDERSON: We are continuing to monitor developments out of Beirut. The death toll is rising, unfortunately. Let me just get you the numbers.
Before we do that, in fact, let me just give you some breaking news.
An Air India Express flight has skidded off the runway while landing at Calicut International Airport. I had promised that we'll get you more
information on that as we get it, but at present, that is what we have, so an Air India Flight skidding off the runway.
All right, I promised you that we are still monitoring developments, of course, out of Beirut. The death toll of Tuesday's massive explosion,
sadly, has now raised to 154 people at least 16 employees of the city's ports currently being detained.
According to the Lebanese media, the country's President has now vowed there will be a transparent investigation, but the possibility that the
blast was caused by government negligence has reignited fury and frustration at Lebanon's political ruling class. If you were on the streets
of Beirut last year during the anti-government protests as we were, this tune may sound familiar.
-- Which means for the nation became part of the soundtrack to the protest movement and while the group behind it never expected the song that was
actually written years earlier to take off quite like it has. It does seem controversy follows "Mashrou' Leila" wherever they go.
The band's music is known to tackle taboos that few other Arab artists have ever touched. Lead Singer Hamed Sinno left Beirut a year ago and is now
based in New York. He reacted to the Tuesday blast in Beirut saying, and I quote him here. Beirut I hate you so much for making me leave. I hate you
for everything you've taken from me.
[11:35:00]
ANDERSON: I hate you for everything you've taken from my mother. I hate you so much for finding a way to punish me even when I am not there. Beirut, I
hate you as much as I hate myself for still belonging to. Hamed Sinno joins us now. Raw emotion sir, just explain where you are at given what has
happened over the past 96 hours?
HAMED SINNO, SINGER, MASHROU' LEILA: Thank you for having me. To be honest, I think right now, like most Lebanese people both inside and outside the
country, there is nothing but anger with long stretches of numbness that I think necessary for surviving the intensity of just the emotional labor
necessary to process any of this.
ANDERSON: When you say "I hate you, Beirut, I hate you as much as I hate myself for still belonging to you," just explain to those who aren't
Lebanese and for those who have never been to Beirut what you mean?
SINNO: Beirut is an incredible city, not in the way that is so often written about the western journalism particularly you know about the
nightlife, the resilience that over max size resilience that no one should have to demonstrate.
The Lebanese people are constantly being put in this position where they have to be resilient, and they shouldn't have to, and it's romanticized so
often by the world. It is incredible because to grow up in Beirut, especially for people, I think, who are born in my generation after the
civil war, we grew up with this promise that Beirut could be this thing that we could change, and we grew up with all these mythologies about what
the country was.
So to grow up there means to be there physically and simultaneously being is nostalgic for the city because it never really is what we're told to
believe it is. It's a very difficult city, destroys dreams, its soul crushing and it's incredible.
Because of that, it's such an incredible place to be in. I guess because of all the mythology of it, you grow up, and the city isn't just a place that
you live in, it really becomes who you are, and it's very difficult to walk away from that and so difficult to see this happening right now.
ANDERSON: You left why?
SINNO: I left because things had been starting to get really difficult for the band I worked with and myself for quite some time. And to be honest, I
had gotten to a place where I started to believe that my sort of political - the aspirations that I had for my political life or my political being
started to feel they couldn't possibly be realized in Lebanon.
Obviously the irony of that is that a few months later the revolution happened. But yes, that was why I left.
ANDERSON: Am I right in saying that your band has been banned from playing live in Lebanon?
SINNO: We had a concert cancellation. We have no reason to believe that, you know, it's a ban. It was a cancellation. There was a very vicious
campaign that was launched against the band with all sorts of fabrications that were coming out about what we stood for and who we were, things that
were absurd.
And, of course, there were arrest warrants that were issued for all of us. The people who were still living in Beirut at the time, our guitarist and
our drummer, both had to deal with ridiculous interrogations, ridiculous levels of intimidation from the government and the security apparatus.
ANDERSON: Let me ask you a very simple question very briefly, what do you want to see happen next?
SINNO: There are lots of things I want to see happen. The first is I think it would be terrible if international media continued to give the Lebanese
oligarchy platforms through which they can air their lies and to which they can continue to cover this mess up.
[11:40:00]
SINNO: We've already seen it start to happen with Gebran Bassil's absurd, ridiculous interview on the BBC the other day. These people should not be
given platforms. They're murderers. The other thing that I would like to happen is for the Lebanese people inside and outside the country to
understand that none of these people are politicians.
These people are war leaders, they are militia men, and the reason they continue to be in power is because they produce these constant states of
war, be they active battles or be they just these constant fabricated tensions that we're told are constantly happening in Lebanon, but they're
not really there.
These people have no political legitimacy. They have no idea what they're doing. We see the same people move from one ministry to the next with no
expertise in the matter. We have two hours of electricity a day in the country right now, we have no clean water.
The coast is destroyed, the water is destroyed. The city is destroyed. The water is not usable. There are no public parks, there are no public
resources. These people have no idea what they're doing. They're only there constantly recreating these public tensions that justify their existence,
that justify their positions, and they've already run the country to the ground, right?
To think of a currency devaluing 80 percent over the course of one month, this is something that should take generations to happen, and it happened
over the course of a month. At this point you could get a 13-year-old sixth grader with good intentions and that person would probably run the country
better than any of these people.
So it needs to happen. The Lebanese people needs to trust that the people on the ground can do a better job, and we're already seeing it happen. Over
the last two days, there wasn't a single, you know, person from the army or the security apparatus or the government that was on the street cleaning.
Nothing has been done. The people took to the streets and started cleaning things up. The people are already helping each other, they're housing each
other. They're finding food and resources for each other. The people can do this. They just need to trust that they can take over and do it.
What needs to happen is that you know the global community needs to support that transition. Right now we're already seeing the government stalk any
incoming aid. There was obviously this - morning with the French aid mission, I think it was a ton and a half of medical supplies that were
supposed to be shipped to Lebanon, and the government blocked it because the intension was to those resources to go directly to NGOs and people on
the ground.
Instead of going through the government so the government can continue to steal. The world needs to do right by Lebanon.
ANDERSON: Hamed we hear your words. I have to just say that the government has disputed that fact, that they've been stopping any aid coming in. That
is the official line. But we hear your words, your emotions, and the world is listening, sir thank you for joining us. Hamed Sinno with us live.
SINNO: Thank you for that.
ANDERSON: Well, an update to bring you on the breaking news that we're following in India. We've learned three people are dead following after a
plane crash. CNN News 18 reports a pilot and two passengers were killed.
This was an Air India Express flight that skidded off the runway while landing at Calicut International Airport. We are, of course, following that
for you. Vedika Sud is in Delhi and she joins us now on the line. What more can you tell us, Vedika?
VEDIKA SUD, CNN PRODUCER, NEW DELHI: A disturbing news coming in this evening Becky. What we do know is that it was an Air India Express plane.
It had over 180 people on board. The visibility was low, is what we've been told and because of which there was a lot of rain in the area, and after
that the plane skidded off the runway.
The people as you believe also broke into two. As of now, according to reports coming in from CNN News 18, about three people are dead, like you
mentioned, and over 30 people are hurt in that crash. We also do know that the DGCA is going to be administering a probe into this.
This happened at the table top of that runway and then the plane skidded off. Very disturbing visuals also coming in at this point which of course
we will talk about in a while we do know that at least 24 ambulances and fire attainders have been rushed to the airport. 30 like I said have
injured in this incident, Becky.
ANDERSDON: Thank you very much indeed and as Vedika says that we'll follow this. And as we get more of course for viewers we will bring that to you.
So that is an Air India flight skidding off the runway in Calicut, and, sadly, reports of three dead and a number of people injured. We'll take a
very short break back after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[11:45:00]
ANDERSON: Well, let's get you an update on what is going on in India at present. I know that we've just reported for you the breaking news that we
are following. We have learned that three people are dead after a plane crash. CNN News 18 reporting a pilot and two passengers were killed. This
was an Air India Express flight that skidded off the runway while landing.
I want to get back to Vedika Sud who is joining us following this from Delhi and she joins us now on the line. If you can just update us on
exactly what you have at this point Vedika, please?
SUD: Of course Becky. So what we do know is that this flight was landing in Kozhikode in the southern state of Kerala from Dubai. There were about a
180 passengers on board, this Air Express Plane. Now while it was landing, what we've learned is, and what even CNN News 18 has been saying is that
there was heavy rain in the area because of which the visibility was hit according to CNN News 18.
Three people are dead, including the pilot. What we do know is that while landing, it skidded off the runway and then landed in the valley. This is a
tabletop runway at the Kozhikode area, at the Kozhikode Airport.
And after that, the fuselage broke in two. The DGCA which is the Director General of Affiliation that heads this Civil Aviation in India has also
ordered a probe into the incident. They said that the plane landed in heavy rain and after landing at runway 10 it - until the end of the runway and
fell down in the valley and broke into two.
About 30 people have been injured in this mishap. The numbers could go up in the coming minutes and hours. That's what's we have for you right now,
Becky.
ANDERSON: OK. And we're just getting a little bit more information into CNN Center here. This was a flight from Dubai X1344 a Boeing 737 which had 184
passengers on board landed at 7:41 pm at the airport. It does appear to have overshot the runway. Vedika, of course this is monsoon season,
correct?
SUD: Yes, it is, and the southern state of Kerala receives a lot of rain at this time and the visibility because of that was low. And it skidded off
the runway landing into the valley. The fuselage we believe split in two.
As of now like I mentioned, about 30 people injured according to CNN New 18. Three people there, including the pilot. The damage to the plane seems
to be quite severe and there is a probe also that has been initiated into this. We also believe that 24 ambulances and fire attainders have been
rushed to the airport. This skidded like I said at the Kozhikode International Airport. There were six crew members on board, is the
statement from the Air India Express, Becky.
[11:50:00]
ANDERSON: This airport, as I understand a tabletop one the Dubai flight coming into Calicut a Boeing 737 with 180 passengers on board landing at
7:41 skidding off the runway at Calicut Airport. We are beginning to see images coming in. As soon as we can clear these images for you, of course,
we will bring it to you.
But as far as we understand it, this aircraft is a 737 bound for Calicut out of Dubai just simply broken in two after skidding off the end of the
runway. We are now seeing images coming in to CNN. And as I say we will clear these images for you as quickly as we can.
There are an awful lot of people, as you could imagine family and friends, now at the airport, obviously people trying to ensure that their family and
friends are safe. This is a breaking news story. We are looking at numbers, at least over 30 hurt, if not more, and three dead, unfortunately, in this
incident plane inbound from Dubai skidding off the runway there at Calicut International Airport.
I'm going to take a very, very short break back after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: We're updating you on the breaking news that we are following as it comes in to CNN. We have learned that three people are dead in an Air
India plane crash. CNN News 18 in India reporting a pilot and two passengers killed.
This was an Air India Express flight that skidded off the runway while landing. This was a flight from Dubai carrying 174 passengers, six crew
members on board including two pilots. That's according to the Air India Express Organization. In a statement Vedika Sud is following this from
Delhi. And she is working her sources and she joins us now. What more can you tell us at this point, Vedika?
SUD: Becky, some news coming in from the Civil Aviation Ministry of India. They said that the Air India Express flight IX1344 operated by the 737
Aircraft from Dubai to Calicut overshot the runway at Kozhikode at 7:41 pm this evening. No fire was reported at the time of landing.
They said that 174 passengers and inference two pilots and 5 cabin crew were on board the aircraft - report rescue operations are on and passengers
are being taken to hospital for medical care. Like I said 24 ambulances along with fire attainders at the spot as I speak with you.
That's the latest we have from the Civil Aviation Ministry here in India. Like I mentioned earlier, this is a tabletop runway. So the aircraft that
we are talking about actually overshot the runway and fell into the valley. The fuselage broke into two. As I speak to you, search is on for survival
the rescue operations are on.
Over 30 people have been injured, and like CNN News 18 has stated three people have died, including the pilot of this aircraft. Becky?
ANDERSON: We should consider the weather conditions at this point. This is monsoon season, Vedika?
[11:55:00]
SUD: Absolutely. Kerala is known for the high rainfall it receives during the monsoon season here in India, and that's what even the reports that
we're hearing are stating, that it was raining heavily, visibility was low in the area because the aircraft overshot the runway and fell into the
valley, the fuselage breaking in two.
Definitely monsoon had a huge role to play here with heavy rainfall in the area. The survivors were taken to the hospital. There are fire attainders
at the spot, and according to the Indian government, specifically the Civil Aviation Ministry there were 174 passengers on board, including two pilots
and five cabin crew on board the aircraft according to CNN News 18.
They have been reporting that one pilot is dead along with two other people, and the statement here mentions that there were two pilots on
board. So the fate of the other pilot is not known yet, Becky. We're trying to get more information on this. Huge damage to the aircraft is obvious
because of the fuselage breaking in two. Initial reports have suggested that the rescue operations continue the search for survivors is on.
ANDERSON: And Vedika as you speak, we have just got the first image of this plane. This is he Air India flight IX1344 from Dubai. As Vedika has been
reporting, carrying 174 passengers was skidded during landing at Karipur Airport in Kerala today.
Six crew members on board including two pilots and this plane skidding in heavy rain after landing at runway 10 it continued running until the end of
the runway and off a tabletop airport fell into the valley below, and the image that you see there is the result of the fuselage breaking into two.
It is clear from that image that it is very wet in the area. Vedika, you have been reporting that there are rescue crews now on the scene and people
clearly--
SUD: Yes, Becky.
ANDERSON: --please tell me what you have.
SUD: Yes, the search operations are on Becky. And of course the biggest challenge will be dealing with the rain while you search for survivors
because the visibility earlier was not good enough for the plane to land. It overshot the runway fell into the valley and fuselage breaking into two.
As of now as you can see on your screen as well they have been look out for survivors with over 24 fire attainders as well as ambulances on the spot.
These survivors are being taken to hospital for treatment. That's the latest that we have for you.
The press statement also coming out of the Civil Aviation Ministry here in India where they have mentioned 174 passengers were on board, then two
pilots and five cabin crew. As far as that aircraft is concerned huge damage to the aircraft. You can only imagine if the fuselage split the
aircraft into two what it would look like.
Of course the world is still waiting on how many people were really injured and whether the death toll will go up. But according to CNN News 18, three
deaths have been reported, and they are also reporting now that about 40 people have been hurt due to this mishap that took place at the Kozhikode
Airport in Kerala.
And Kerala is a state in southern India known to have a lot of rains during the monsoons season, Becky.
ANDERSON: And it is 9:28 pm in the evening there. Rescue operations are ongoing, as you suggest now the number of injured has increased to 40 at
present. We're reporting that there are three deaths. That's your breaking news.
We will take a very short break at this point, but as we learn of the death of three people after this plane crash in India, the sister network CNN 18
in India reporting a pilot and two passengers killed. It was an Air India Express flight out of Dubai that skidded off the runway while landing more
on this after this very short break.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
END
