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@THISHOUR WITH BERMAN AND MICHAELA

Families Gather at Crisis Center, AirAsia Search Continues; Searchers Use Pingers to Pinpoint Wreckage; North Korea Leaders Flies Plane In Video; Director Talks Roger Ebert Film.

Aired January 1, 2015 - 11:30   ET

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


JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: The police chief has been placed on administrative leave. He was just named Peach Tree City's police chief in October. The town is a suburb of Atlanta. Police haven't said how McCollum's wife was shot. The investigation is being turned over to state's bureau of investigation.

Possible security breach is being investigated at Chik-Fil-A. The fast-food chain says it's working with law enforcement involving card payments used at a few restaurants. They didn't specify which restaurants or locations. It says customers will not be liable for any fraudulent charges and they will be provided free identity protection if a breach is confirmed.

A woman went into labor on a Delta Airlines flight from San Francisco to Minneapolis. They diverted, landed in Salt Lake City, and rushed her to the hospital before the baby was born. The pediatrician on board and the local fire department pitched in to help. Both the mother and baby are doing fine. Double frequent flier miles, by the way.

For us @THISHOUR, we'll go to the crisis center in Surabaya in Indonesia for new developments in the search for victims and debris from Flight 8501. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BERMAN: New developments this morning, the search for victims and wreckage of Flight 8501. A female passenger has become the first victim of the crash to be identified and returned to her family. She was laid to rest just a short time ago. I understand knees officials confirm that nine of the 162 people on the flight have been recovered so far. Luggage, pieces of stair and other metal straps were also collected today floating in the Java Sea, but the weather has been really rough. Rough seas have made these efforts extremely difficult. Right now the search has been suspended because of the dark and dangerous conditions.

Andrew Stevens is at the new crisis center for family members in Surabaya, Indonesia.

Andrew, what is the latest on the search not just for the fuselage but also the black boxes?

ANDREW STEVENS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: The sad news -- the bad news is the weather is bad and it's going to stay bad. We're hearing this terrible weather will continue through perhaps Sunday. It's now Thursday evening here. Searchers are having to work between the bands of weather coming through. We're told that in the search zone today waves getting up to four meters, 15 feet high. Strong winds, strong driving rain which cuts visibility, of course. Divers couldn't get into the water. So they couldn't get into the area where they think their may be that large object which was seen from an aerial reconnaissance a couple days ago. They haven't been able to fully locate it and find out what it is. Divers haven't been able to get into the water. Divers are still on land. Many of the diving teams still on land because they can't get choppers out to the naval ships in the zone. So John, disappointing bitter news for the families as they wait for what looks now for the remains of their loved ones to make their way back here to Surabaya.

BERMAN: We have said and reported that one victim has already been identified. Andrew, I understand she has already been laid to rest.

STEVENS: That's right. She was a 49-year-old passenger on that flight. She was one of two, the first two victims brought back here to the police hospital where we are now, where the new crisis center is for identification yesterday. Both the remaining arriving yesterday. She was identified more than 24 hours later. They've been very, very careful in the identification process to make sure they've got it exactly right. Dental records are being used. She actually had a piece of jewelry, a very easily defined piece of jewelry which helped the identification process. We understand DNA was still used there. The remains were handed over to her family in same but solemn ceremony here. The mayor of the city was in attendance. The remains were taken to her village where she was buried. About 150 people were at the funeral, a simple Muslim funeral. She was buried, red flowers sprinkled over the grave. Obviously, a devastating time for all heifer friends and family. Remember that is the first victim to be laid to rest, 162 passengers on that flight, 162 passengers and crew on that flight -- John?

BERMAN: So many other families will go through this in the coming days and weeks.

Andrew Stevens, thanks for being with us.

If you have questions about the investigation into 8501, tweet us, #8501qs. We'll bring in the experts and answer those questions just ahead.

Dramatic footage showing North Korea's leader, Kim Jong-Un, in command. Is this his response to "The Interview" that caused so much controversy?

And we'll talk about a wonderful film Robert Ebert. This will change your mind in the way you look at him and open your mind to so many things. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK) BERMAN: Happening now, the search for AirAsia Flight 8501 has

been suspended because of the dark and dangerous conditions in the Java Sea. Teams did collect more evidence today, including two bags, a gray suitcase, pieces of stairs and other metal straps. Time is of the essence here. The pingers, of course, designed to lead searchers to the black boxes. They have power for about 25 more days at this point before they go dead.

Want to bring back aviation consultant and retired Air Force Lieutenant Colonel Ken Christensen. And also our safety analyst, David Soucie, is with us.

David, I want to go to viewer questions. Could the aircraft have suffered a massive decompression rendering the crew unconscious and unable to react?

DAVID SOUCIE, CNN SAFETY ANALYST: I don't see any evidence that points that that right now, John.

BERMAN: That would look completely different. That would be a plane flying on its own for a long period of time.

SOUCIE: It may be or if it lost control and the auto pilot is off, the airplane would have performed differently. I think we're looking at something more specific. We have enough information to rule that one out, I believe.

BERMAN: Colonel, this is a question because the plane we know, the pilot is asked to fly above a storm, to raise their altitude. How high does a plane need to go to avoid storms like this?

CHRISTENSEN: In that region of the world, that particular plane cannot top a thunderstorm. Those thunderstorms are going in excess of 55,000 feet with those temperatures and the upward lifting development, that plane isn't even certified to fly that high. The other thing is, when the plane continues to climb, the performance envelope of the plane reduces. It's limited on bank angle. You just don't have the controllability at those altitudes that you would at lower altitudes. In addition, if there's any turbulent air, that can put the plane into an upset condition or where a plane actually departs controlled flight.

BERMAN: David, there was no way to top this storm, going as high as 50,000 feet. There were reports that there were other planes flying at higher altitude. Why could things be better at 34 or 36,000 than they were at 32,000 feet?

SOUCIE: It has to do with where the hot air and cold air mix and the fact they're turbulent, changing the places, moving. That's what creates the winds and those sorts of things. If that mixes below a certain altitude. The aircraft that flew through the turbulence before, would know it's fairly stable. It could be going on at 32,000 feet for example. How you know, the pilots communicate through air traffic and say I was at 38,000 feet ten minutes ago and it was night and smooth.

BERMAN: Maybe want to be where the other planes were and perhaps have a safer ride.

Colonel, third question from our viewers, why isn't a plane equipped to automatically send distress signals when it as skids too fast or spins out of control. That's a good question?

CHRISTENSEN: I think that's an excellent question. I was on "State of the Union" with Candy Crowley and we were talking about this during the Malaysia flight. I've said this before, if we can find my iPhone from a computer, why can't we do this with an aircraft? The emergency locator transmitter is very good. The underwater locator beacon is very good. But we really need a popcorn trail or a trail of that airplane that continually transmits its position right up to the point where you lose all electrical power. These items can be autonomous and installed in the aircraft. But there has to be regulation paths to do this. The airlines, because of their shareholders and everything, they're not going to self initiate that. That's why you have aviation policy. I think, between the Malaysia crash, certainly the Air France crash and now this one, I think there's enough momentum and pressure for regulation change on this.

BERMAN: In fact, David, the AirAsia fleet is being upgraded with some more real-time tracking options. This plane had not been changed yet. This specifically, what this viewer is asking about is some equipment failures, if there is some massive disruption or you hit the water really fast, beacons that automatically go off at that point.

SOUCIE: There are some, but they're inaccurate. You have emergency locator transmitters activated by deceleration. This aircraft didn't even have the satellite imagery. It is something with a low fare carrier not having the frills. They're not really frills.

BERMAN: Somebody wrote me about something we talked about before. One of the things they found in the water is the emergency exit door. That's led people to ask a lot of questions. Did someone pop the door to try to get out? Just because you see an emergency exit door floating in the water, does that mean necessarily that someone had to open it?

SOUCIE: That in itself doesn't. But it's the other evidence that shows to me it mostly was, and the reason that is, there's no other debris around it. In order for that door to be on the outside of the aircraft, it has to have gone through the structure. In order for that to happen, the structure had to break into pieces. The structure is floating industrial. If that were the case where it broke apart, we would find other evidence. The ocean is not smart enough to filter out the things that only have to do with that emergency exit door. There would be other things there.

BERMAN: David Soucie, Colonel Ken Christensen, always a pleasure to see you. Thank you so much.

Ahead, North Korea's propaganda machine gears up after the release of "The Interview." Kim Jong-Un appears to be flying an airplane. What's that all about?

Later a documentary about a truly brilliant man, Roger Ebert. We'll look at the fascinating last few months of his life in a fascinating new project in CNN films. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BERMAN: The film at the center of so much controversy will be available to 55 million more Americans. Sony reduced "The Interview." It will cost you $5.99. If you want to pay much, much more than that, you will also get the chance. The film will be released in hundreds of theaters across the country starting tomorrow.

The subject of that film, North Korean leader, Kim Jong-Un, gave a new year's address today. He said that he would be willing to speak with South Korea's leaders.

North Korea's propaganda's machine seems to be hard at work trying to counter the film, "The Interview," with its somewhat odd video release, showing Kim Jong-Un piloting a plane. Watch.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ELISE LABOTT, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): New images of Kim Jong-Un, flying high and firmly in command. Dramatic footage released by the regime shows the North Korean leader sitting in a cockpit, reviewing the checklist, and powering down the runway, appearing to lift the jet smoothly into the sky. Kim, supervised by a co-pilot, miraculously appears to land the plane with one hand.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE)

LABOTT: North Korea's propaganda machine in overdrive to portray Kim as in control after U.S. release of "The Interview" --

UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR: Nice tank. Is that real?

UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR: It was a gift to my grandfather from Stalin.

LABOTT: -- which the regime called a mockery of his dignity.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: If they want to give that impression to the world that they are strong and invincible, but beneath that is a great deal of insecurity, insecurity justifiably based on the economic situation, based on the fact that the whole political regime is built on a system of lies.

LABOTT: North Koreans can't see the comic story of a plot to assassinate Kim.

UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR: You want to kill Kim Jong-Un?

UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR: Totally.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: But if a South Korean activist has his way, balloons will start dropping copies of "The Interview" over North Korea next month.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We invite you to join us as we turn the tables on the North Korean regime and hack them back.

LABOTT: Kim has denied involvement in the cyber attack on Sony. But the U.S. has knocked that down in the face of new questions from cyber experts, whether North Korea was truly behind it. President Obama still promising payback.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I do think that the cycle of provocations with North Korea is inevitable. I certainly believe that the movie helps us speed up that process. The leadership transition, even though it is two years old in North Korea, is still far from complete. If the leadership feels so insecure about a Hollywood movie that makes fun of it.

LABOTT: Elise Labott, CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BERMAN: Thanks to Elise Labott for that report.

Let's talk about a different kind of film. The movie for Roger Ebert's life. A new CNN Film about Roger Ebert shows there really much, much more than a film critic. Decades of commentary on our culture and his work as a critic with Gene Siskel. Also his battle with cancer which played out in front of eyes.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I think in the beginning it was very complicated, and I don't think he wanted to be a part of a movie even if it's --

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: They're lifestyles could be more different.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BERMAN: Steve James directed the documentary called "Life Itself." I spoke with Steve James and we spoke about why Roger Ebert, the film critic, was such an engaging and inspiring documentary subject.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BERMAN: So why Roger Ebert?

STEVE JAMES, DIRECTOR: Why not Roger Ebert. He's he most significant film critic I think we've ever had. He had an extraordinary life.

BERMAN: There aren't a lot of guys you can make a documentary about, not a lot of newspaper reporters.

You go in to do this, a week before you start shooting, he goes back in the hospital and it all changes.

JAMES: Yeah. When I set out, I wanted actors to show how they learned to cop but still live their lives fully. You see the work ethic he had, the sense of humor. You see everything. But then you realize you're watching a movie.

BERMAN: You see this man who is living the last four months of his life. He was the star. He can't talk, by the way, but he's the star of the film.

JAMES: I like to say, Roger, when he lost his ability to speak, kind of turned himself in a physical comedian, like he's a great silent comic. He does stuff in the movie that makes you laugh.

BERMAN: Speaking of honest, clearly, as we were talking about before, one of the most haunting parts of the film for me was when you explore death with him and he embraces it, he says he's excited for this part of his life, the dying part.

JAMES: Yeah, for me, what I loved about that was not only his sort of spirit in the face of death, but also it's a statement about his life.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JAMES: How have you kept your spirits up?

EBERT: I have zeroed in on my work. When I'm seeing a movie or writing a review that makes me feel good, you know, how they talk about being in a zone, when you're doing something you're good at, you get in the zone. It sort of pushes your troubles to the back of your mind.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

JAMES: I think that Roger probably early on kind of grasped that his life was like a movie in a deep and interesting way. Sometimes it's a comedy, sometimes it was a drama, sometimes it was an adventure, and sometimes it was a tragedy.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BERMAN: It is an extraordinary documentary. It makes its TV debut this weekend. Please watch. Set your DVR right now. Sunday night it airs at 9:00 eastern right here on CNN.

Thanks for watching us @THISHOUR.

"LEGAL VIEW" begins after a quick break.

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