Return to Transcripts main page

CNN NEWSROOM

Weather Plays a Role in Kobe Bryant's Helicopter Crash; Coronavirus a Silent Killer; John Bolton with New Bombshell Revelation; Coincidental Timing for Middle East Peace Plan; Kobe Bryant Died in a Helicopter Crash; Sports World Loss an Icon. Aired 3- 4a ET

Aired January 27, 2020 - 03:00   ET

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

[03:00:00]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is CNN breaking news.

MICHAEL HOLMES, CNN ANCHOR: Hello and welcome to our viewers joining us here in the United States all around the world. I'm Michael Holmes.

ROSEMARY CHURCH, CNN ANCHOR: And I'm Rosemary Church.

We continue our breaking news coverage on the sudden death of Kobe Bryant. The basketball legend died in a helicopter crash on Sunday along with his teenage daughter and seven other people.

HOLMES: U.S. aviation officials and local authorities are at the crash site near Los Angeles investigating what happened. They do say there was low visibility at the time of the crash, but it is still unclear if that played a factor or not. The recovery now underway. Authorities say it could take a couple of days to complete.

CHURCH: Bryant was an early star in professional basketball. He was drafted into the NBA in his teens.

HOLMES: In 20 seasons, yes, 20, with the Lakers. He won five NBA championships. Set a lengthy list of records.

Polo Sandoval now with more on his extraordinary life.

POLO SANDOVAL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: He was born Kobe Bean Bryant. To the world, the 41-year-old was a global basketball phenomenon. The son of a pro basketball player, the Philly native finished high school and was quickly drafted by the NBA.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Greatness lies ahead for this young man.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SANDOVAL: At the time Bryant was the youngest player in the league's history at just over 17 years old.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

KOBE BRYANT, FORMER NBA PLAYER: I think a lot of people, even when I came out of high school, I think people were kind of, kind of giving me the cold shoulder to begin with because I think unfortunately, some people wanted me to fail because I defied the odds.

(CROWD CHANTING)

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SANDOVAL: The MVP spent his entire pro-career with the L.A. Lakers winning five NBA championships with the team. During his 20 seasons, Bryant became one of the league's top scoring players, even surpassed Michael Jordan, becoming fourth on the NBA's all-time scoring list.

On two occasions he helped secure team USA Olympic gold on the world stage. Bryant dealt with controversy, too. In 2003 he was charged with sexual assault, accused of raping a 19-year-old hotel employee. The charge was later dropped and the case was settled in civil court.

Bryant also overcame various sport-related injuries, always determined to heal and return to the court. Then in the fall of 2015 he announced his plan to retire from the NBA and played his final game in 2016.

The following year, his jersey numbers, 8 and 24rks were retired. Since then he has made his mark on Hollywood, winning an academy award for his film "Dear Basketball." But his greatest accomplishment may have been off the hardwood. He was a husband and proud father of four children.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BRYANT: We all have moments like this in life where it just seems like those days never want to end, you know. It just seems like the moment you're in feels like the darkest moment to you, you know. At that point you really kind of have to step outside of yourself and put it in perspective and understand that, you know, I had many, many blessings, a lot of things to be thankful for.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SANDOVAL: At 6'6" Bryant was more than just a literal giant. L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti wrote, "Bryant inspired, amazed, and thrilled people with his incomparable skill on the court and awed us with his intellect and humility as a father, husband, creative genius, and ambassador for the game he loved."

Polo Sandoval, CNN, New York.

HOLMES: Grief stricken NBA fans around the world paying tribute to Kobe Bryant.

(CROWD CHEERING) HOLMES: Fans cheering after a moment of silence that was held at

Madison Square Garden in New York on Sunday night before a game between the Brooklyn Nets and the New York Knicks kicked off.

CHURCH: Outside the arena was lit up in purple and gold, the colors of the Los Angeles Lakers. Meanwhile, reaction continues to flood in.

Former Lakers coach, Phil Jackson release a statement saying this. "The crash was a tragedy for multiple families. My heart goes out to Vanessa and the families that lost loved ones. Kobe was a chosen one, special in many ways to many people. Our relationship as coach/player transcended the norm. He went beyond the veil."

And Los Angeles Clippers coach Doc Rivers who knew Bryant for many years, was also emotional when asked about his death.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DOC RIVERS, HEAD COACH, LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS: The news is just devastating to everybody who knew him. Known him a long time. And, you know, he means a lot to me obviously. You know, he was such a great opponent, you know. It's what you want in sports.

[03:05:00]

He had that DNA that very few athletes can ever have, you know, the Tiger Woods and the Michael Jordans, you know. It's funny. I was getting to know him more since he retired, you know. Yes, this is a tough one.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOLMES: Crowds have been gathering to pay respects at the staple center in Los Angeles where the Lakers play. And that's where we find our Paul Vercammen.

And Paul, the thing with a guy that sort of went from high school into the pros, much of America feels they grew up with him from teenage years to adulthood and right through his career. He means a lot to people, particularly there where you are.

PAUL VERCAMMEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's exactly right. The reason that he does this is Kobe Bryant, unlike so many other players in the modern era, never wore any other jersey than a Lakers jersey, 20 years.

And if you look behind me, you can get a sense for what he means to this city. The candles, the basketballs, the flowers. And fans just openly weeping, some of them, as they've walked up here to pay their respects to Kobe Bryant.

Something that many of them said over and over again is to them, he was Los Angeles. He was their Southern California experience. And for every single wrong stereotype about Southern California being laid back, Kobe Bryant was fiery, tenacious, won by force of will. Many people remembering some of the things that he did, how he had

lost to the Celtics and then later came back and beat the Celtics. How he snapped his Achilles tendon and went to the free-throw line with a ruptured Achilles tendon, and still shot the free-throw. That's the sort of toughness that many of these fans admired Kobe for, just an unbelievable work ethic.

And I want to ask Francisco, another person here wearing his Kobe Bryant jersey number 8. When you first heard this news, what -- how did you react?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I was honestly on shocked. I couldn't believe it. I was about to cry. Like I just didn't know what to do at that point. I thought it was false, like false news. But then it came it was confirmed. And not only that, but to find out his daughter was also involved and the lives of many others, it was just a very tragic day for L.A. nation.

Not just that, but I mean growing up watching Kobe is just -- he was family. He was family here in L.A. not just L.A., but the whole world, worldwide.

VERCAMMEN: And it's past midnight, and yet these people are still here.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I believe we'll be here all day, all week, 24 hours a day. It doesn't matter how many securities or cops you have out there. We have this much love for Kobe Because he dedicated 20 years to L.A., faithful, faithful.

VERCAMMEN: Faithful, well said. Thank you. Well, there you have it, Michael, Rosemary. That's why they adored him. They felt that he was faithful, loyal. As we said, he never jumped into another team. He might have flirted with an idea of doing so at one point, but he was a Laker through and through.

And behind me Staples Center, yes, it was the Grammy Awards. But Staples was the house that many people feel that Kobe Built. Back to you.

HOLMES: Yes, absolutely. It just doesn't happen in the modern era, does it?

CHURCH: Yes.

HOLMES: Twenty years with one team. Paul Vercammen, thanks very much. Great reporting all night there.

CHURCH: And that fan really described it exactly how most of us responded.

HOLMES: Yes.

CHURCH: I mean, that shock, and then founded out that Gianna was on board was well.

HOLMES: I could not believe it when I saw it this afternoon. Unbelievable.

CHURCH: Horrifying. Yes. I think we're all still frying to come to terms with it.

HOLMES: Process.

CHURCH: Right? And, of course, current Lakers star LeBron James looked up to Kobe Bryant while he was growing up. He was visibly emotional Sunday as he got off the team plane in L.A. You see there in those pictures.

Just a day earlier. He passed Bryant on the NBA's all-time career scoring list. He spoke about that achievement before the news of Bryant's death.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LEBRON JAMES, FOUR-TIME NBA MOST VALUABLE PLAYER: I'm here in a Lakers uniform in Philadelphia where he's from, where the first time I ever met him, gave me his shoes he worn also -- it's this -- it's surreal. It doesn't make no sense.

I'm happy just to be in any conversation with Kobe Bean Bryant, one of the all-time greatest basketball players ever played, one of all-time greatest Lakers. The man got two jerseys hanging up in Staples Center. It's just crazy.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOLMES: Yes. Great words. We are also hearing from NBA greats like Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. He had this message about Kobe.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

KAREEM ABDUL-JABBAR, RETIRED NBA ALL-STAR: Kobe, my thoughts are with you, absolutely. Rest in peace, young man. This loss is, it's just hard to comprehend. Go with God.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

[03:10:00]

HOLMES: Now, another NBA legend, Michael Jordan, he released a statement on Bryant's death. He says, quote, "I am in shock over the news. Words can't describe the pain I'm feeling. I loved Kobe. He was like a little brother to me. We used to talk often and I will miss those conversations very much."

CHURCH: And CNN's Christina MacFarlane joins me now from London. So, Christina, the very fact that the whole world is mourning the death of Kobe Bryant indicates just how special he was. Not only as an athlete, but as an incredible leader who inspired so many people and touched so many lives. What has been the international reaction so far?

CHRISTINA MACFARLANE, CNN ANCHOR: You're absolutely right, Rosemary. He was an unbelievable leader. What we saw last night was many NBA games still in action despite the news, players actually in floods of tears on the court yesterday upon hearing the news.

And we saw every team playing tribute to Kobe in one way or another. Some players having his name on their shoes. Others taking 24 seconds clock violations in honor of Kobe's number 24 which he wore for the Lakers, of course, for so many years.

But really, as you've seen and you've been explaining already, it's the personal messages that have resonated the most. And I just want to talk you through a few more of the people who were extremely close to Kobe that are doing the rounds here today.

Shaquille O'Neal, as you know, a long-time playing partner of Kobe Bryant, a close friend. He tweeted this upon hearing the news. "There are no words to express the pain I'm going through with this tragedy of losing my niece Gigi and my brother Kobe. I love you and you will be missed. My condolences go out to the Bryant family and the families of other passengers on board. I am sick right now."

Also, particularly personal as well was a message that we've just seen from Dwyane Wade on Instagram who, of course, played international basketball with Kobe. They won the Olympic gold medal in 2008. But again, another very close friend of Kobe and a very emotional message. He said, this was one of the saddest days of his life. Take a listen to the video.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DWYANE WADE, THREE-TIME NBA CHAMPION: We will forever, forever miss you, man. You are a legend. You are an icon. You're a father. You're a husband. You're a son, you're a brother. You're a friend. Thank you for being my friend. I love you, brother.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MACFARLANE: Just so sad. But you know, the reaction just hasn't been in basketball. It's been in sports all over the world. But particularly personal was Tiger Woods yesterday who was walking off the 18th green at Torrey Pines just down the road in San Diego.

And he said he walked up to the 18th green and could hear people chanting, do it for mamba. He said he didn't quite know what was going on and why people were saying this until he finished his round and got off the 18th green and was told about the news. Upon which he said he just couldn't believe it. And he gave this interview to the golf channel. Have a look at his reaction.

Unfortunately, apparently, we don't - apparently, we don't have that clip. But I can tell you, you know, Tiger Woods has been extremely close to Kobe Bryant throughout his years. Kobe was a source of comfort to him when he was going through his difficulties.

It's just a sense of shock, I think, that everyone has been expressing in the past 10 hours, Rosemary, that this could happen to a man who is so young in so many ways and was just beginning to start the second chapter of his life. CHURCH: And, of course, Christina, we talked about his popularity

outside of the United States, globally. And he lived and grew up in Italy. He spoke fluent Italian. So, there is a real link, isn't there?

And of course, he loved soccer. We call it soccer in the United States. And football outside of the U.S., and so his links were incredible. So, talk to us about how the newspapers across Britain are reporting this.

MACFARLANE: Well, the newspapers here in Britain are reporting it like everywhere else, Rosemary, in the sense of shock and dismay. But you're right about the Italy connection and that's particularly pertinent today because Kobe spent his formative years in Italy, in northern Italy.

His father was a pro basketball player, played pro basketball there. So, between the ages of 4 and 16, this is really where Kobe got his love for the game. But also, his love for football as well.

I mean, A.C. Milan where his sort of home club, and of course the football world in Italy and in Europe have been responding to this today. A.C. Milan tweeting out simply on their home page saying Rossonero for life. He was, as I say, he used to go to many of their home games.

He was an enormous Barcelona fan, in fact, a die-hard Barcelona fan. He would always travel across to watch their home games as well and he would always make sure during the off-season that when Barcelona came to the United States that he was present.

[03:14:54]

And we saw, of course, one of the biggest stars in football tweet this morning following the news. Leonel Messi said this. "I have no words. All of my love for Kobe's family and friends. It was a pleasure to meet you and share good times together. You were -- you were a genius like few others."

And just mentioning the Italy connection, Rosemary, also the early club that Kobe played for, Reggiano which is in the north of Italy. They also had a very small response today to just simply say, always one of us. It is -- it's being resonating around the world, but it is particularly pertinent there today.

CHURCH: Absolutely. Of course, the more we talk about Kobe, the more we realize how people right across the globe will miss him and how much he has done, how much he's reached and touched our hearts. Just extraordinary.

Christina MacFarlane, thank you so much for joining us from London.

Well, more ahead on Kobe Bryant's death including his last interview with CNN. The news was especially felt at the Grammy Awards Sunday night held at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.

HOLMES: Yes, the host Alicia Keys, Boys 2 Men, as well, paying tribute to Bryant early in the ceremony.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ALICIA KEYS, MUSICIAN: We love you, Kobe.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

[03:20:00]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BRYANT: Happy New Year, my dear friends in China. Thank you for your support this year where you've shown passion and dedication through your hard work.

In recognition for this, I'd like to giveaway my latest Granity Studios books, "The Wizenard Series: Training Camp," "Legacy and the Queen," and "Epoca: The Tree of Ecrof." I wish you happiness, health and inner magic to achieve more success in the upcoming year of the mouse. Love, Kobe.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CHURCH: More proof there that Kobe Bryant was an international star with fans all over the world. That includes China where he attended this practice back in 2013.

HOLMES: Yes. Bryant, of course, died in a helicopter crash on Sunday at the age of 41. He and his 13-year-old daughter Gianna were among nine people killed when the aircraft went down just outside of Los Angeles. They shared a very close relationship and were seen laughing and smiling, taking in a game last year.

Well, for more now on how Chinese fans are reacting, CNN's Steven Jiang is live in Beijing. I know you're a big basketball fan as well. I mean, how is the news being greeted there?

STEVEN JIANG, CNN PRODUCER: Well, Michael, I think fans here are just like their peers around the world, are reacting to this news with a lot of shock and grief and mourning their idol, really online, reacting to news stories and posting on social media.

You know, this market, the Chinese market is among the biggest for NBA outside North America. And Kobe Bryant was also the most famous NBA stars, you know, alongside the likes of Michael Jordan and LeBron James. So, people were really still in disbelief that their idol was gone so soon and so suddenly.

So, they were really, a lot of them, were sharing memories of how they literally grew up with this star and also followed his career and the personal life very closely.

But interesting thing is most of this commemoration is taking place online. I actually went to the NBA's flagship store in downtown Beijing earlier today. It was a ghost town there. Not a single soul both inside and outside the store. That's because this country is in the midst of a growing epidemic of the coronavirus.

So, the authorities have advised people not to go out, stay home, and avoid all public spaces including shopping centers and shopping streets. That's why a lot of this commemoration mourning is going on online.

Now, people, of course, some people were really saying how maybe God made a crude joke taking somebody wrongly so soon. They should have taken some officials, in their minds, responsible for the spread of the virus instead of Kobe Bryant, their beloved basketball star. Michael?

HOLMES: Interesting reaction. All right. Steven, thanks so much. Steven Jiang there in Beijing for us.

CHURCH: And just days before the tragedy CNN conducted one of Kobe Bryant's final interviews.

HOLMES: Yes. It was our Andy Scholes who sat down with the legend at a launch event for Major League Soccer. Here's Andy with that story.

ANDY SCHOLES, CNN SPORTS ANCHOR: Well, anytime you get to sit down with Kobe Bryant it's special. He's one of the greatest athletes of all time. A five-time NBA champion, but he was also excelling in his post-NBA career in the business world.

Kobe was one of the early investors in the sports drink Body Armour. They had just signed an exclusive deal with Major League Soccer. And it was at that big announcement where I got to sit down with Kobe. We talked about his love for soccer. We talked about the NBA. We talked about his daughter Gigi and the game of women's basketball. And here's a portion of that interview from just over a week ago.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SCHOLES: The NBA fans love to debate you, which team from which era was better. Shaq recently weighed in saying that he absolutely thinks you and him would have beaten this current Lakers team with LeBron, Anthony Davis. What's your take on that hypothetical match-up?

BRYANT: I don't weigh in on hypotheticals. I never have. Those things drive me crazy. Right? Because as a competitor, you can't, there's nothing you can do about it. You can't debate yourself to winning something. Right? That was the beauty about sports. You compete, you either win or you lose.

And the debate culture, there's never a clear winner, so it's kind of pointless for me. I don't -- I don't engage in those things.

SCHOLES: Right.

BRYANT: But it's fun to hear.

SCHOLES: You recently said your daughter Gigi got you back into watching a lot of NBA.

[03:25:02]

BRYANT: Yes.

SCHOLES: You've taken her to a bunch of games sitting court side with her. As you watch games with her and coach her through her basketball journey, I want to get your take if you think a woman could ever play in the NBA one day.

BRYANT: Play in the NBA? I think there are a couple players that could play in the NBA honestly. There are a lot of players that have a lot of skill that can do it. Diana Taurasi, Maya Moore. I mean, there's a lot of players out there. Elena Delle Donne. So, they could certainly keep up with them.

SCHOLES: I know you're a big soccer fan growing up in Italy when you were a kid. I wanted to get your thoughts on what seems to be an increase in racism in European football, and if there is anything that can be done to combat it.

BRYANT: It's always education. And understanding that racism is the thing that's been a part of our culture for a while. Even though now, you know, we've come such a long way, but there's still so much to be done. And I think education is always the most important thing. I think speaking up and taking a stand, a significant stand.

I mean, when I was growing up in Italy, I obviously witnessed it firsthand going to certain soccer matches and things of that nature and things that my parents have taught me and educated me on how to deal with those sorts of things. Looking at various muses that I've handled things extremely well, from Jackie Robinson onto Bill Russell and so forth and so on. So, I think education is very important.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

SCHOLES: I was lucky enough to interact with Kobe during two sectors of my life. Back in college I was a ball boy for the Houston Rockets. And during my interview with Kobe I actually showed him a picture from back in 2003 of the two of us. And Kobe laughed, saying, we were both youngsters back then.

And I also took that opportunity to thank Kobe for just being such a nice person, you know. Back then he was the best player in the NBA, but he still took the time to take pictures with all of us, to sign autographs for all of us, something that a lot of superstar players just don't do.

And when I thanked him for doing all that for us back in the day and for being such a nice person, he just smiled back at me and nodded. That's who Kobe was, just a genuine nice person, and he will be sorely missed.

HOLMES: All right, Andy Scholes there. And he will indeed --

CHURCH: Yes. HOLMES: -- be missed all over the world. You've had tributes pouring in for Kobe Bryant.

When we come back, how fans from Los Angeles to Atlanta are remembering the basketball icon.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[03:30:00]

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Kobe is my idol, my favorite basketball player, always and forever, you know. So, Kobe, I'll miss you.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I still have that sports illustrated when you got drafted out of high school, man. I just, I grew up watching him play, you know. He's a part of a lot of our lives. A special person.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: All I can think about is Kobe and basketball, his greatest moments, the five championships. I saw an Instagram post by Shaq. Chilling, man, it's chilling, man. We lost a brother, man. You know, we lost a soldier of the game.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROSEMARY CHURCH, CNN ANCHOR: Devoted basketball fans everywhere remembering the legacy of Kobe Bryant after the 41-year-old was killed Sunday in a helicopter crash.

MICHAEL HOLMES, CNN ANCHOR: In Los Angeles, dozens of Lakers fans paying their respects outside the Staples Center, the arena, of course, where Bryant played in his career, the home of the Lakers. And in New York City Madison Square Garden lit up in the purple and gold of the Lakers team colors.

CHURCH: Meanwhile, fans inside the arena honored Bryant by donning his jerseys. Bryant and his 13-year-old daughter Gianna were among nine people killed when that helicopter went down just outside of Los Angeles. Authorities have been on the scene trying to figure out what happened.

CNN's Nick Watt is there with the very latest.

NICK WATT, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, the first priority is the recovery of the bodies, and then the identification, and then the investigation will really kick into top gear.

Now, the NTSB is sending 18 people from the East Coast. The FAA has been on the scene through Sunday, being helped by local law enforcement. They will be looking at, of course, the safety record of the helicopter itself, the record of the pilot, the route, any radio communications and also the weather.

Now we have been told by the L.A. Police Department that Sunday morning around the time of this crash the LAPD grounded their helicopter fleet because the weather was not good enough for them to fly. The visibility was low. Everybody around here has told us that it was fogged in this morning. So that is one area that they will definitely be looking at.

Now, nine people lost their lives on board that helicopter. Kobe Bryant, his daughter Gigi. We have spoken to parents who were waiting at the Mamba Academy where Gigi was supposed to be playing in a game at noon with Kobe looking on and coaching. They, of course, never made it.

But seven other people also lost their lives. The pilot as yet unnamed, one other man, John Altobelli who was a baseball coach from Orange County, he perished along with his wife and daughter, and three other people who are yet to be named.

But as one radio sportscaster put it here in Los Angeles, this is like JFK for L.A. People will remember where they were the day that the Laker great, the great figure -- he transcended the sport. He meant a great deal to the city, beyond even what he achieved with the Lakers. People will remember where they were when they heard that Kobe Bryant had died.

Nick Watt, CNN, Calabasas.

CHURCH: And as Nick said there, the Los Angeles police grounded their helicopter Sunday morning because of the weather conditions were too rough to fly.

So, let's turn to our Pedram Javaheri, our meteorologist, who has all the details on this. That is the concern here, isn't it? I mean, they haven't said officially that weather was a factor here, but it seems to be particularly relevant here.

PEDRAM JAVAHERI, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Absolutely does, yes. You know, when you look at the data coming in from this particular flight, this particular landscape, and, of course, the topography along this region as well, really plays a role into what we're observing.

We know the humidity across the region was 100 percent. Meaning the atmosphere was fully saturated. Visibility dropped in spots less than two miles across this region. And the cloud deck raising from about say, 2,000 to 3,100 feet across the area.

But kind of going in for a closer perspective, the aircraft actually made much of its flight beneath this cloud deck, flew at around 800 feet to 1,200 feet altitude for much of the 39-minute flight that it was in the sky there.

[03:35:01]

And we kind of track the Santa Ana area where it departed the John Wayne airport. It took about a 20-minute flight to get to the Glendale region near the Los Angeles Zoo. Flight radar indicates here that it made six loops just east of the Los Angeles Zoo. Potentially waiting for air traffic control to give them clearance to continue further for the remaining 15 or so minutes of the flight. And then, it cutback towards the west, but it was right near Calabasas, not far, just within a few minutes of Thousand Oaks, California, which is where it was destined for, is where we see a deviation from the trajectory of the flight. It cuts toward the west, and then eventually south.

And the elevation from where it was flying, from several hundred feet, 800 feet to 1,200 feet. And in fact, within the last 60 seconds, guys, we see this climb up to 2,100 feet and then crash at 1,700 feet.

So, whether this was a mechanical issue or visibility, or combination of both, of course, we'll find out soon. But it looks like certainly weather played at least some role in the crash there.

CHURCH: Yes, no matter what, we're talking about a tragedy here. It is just awful.

HOLMES: Yes.

CHURCH: Thank you so much, Pedram. We appreciate it.

And we'll continue with our breaking news on the death of Kobe Bryant ahead.

Also, the latest on the spread of the Wuhan coronavirus. And the dire new warning from China.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HOLMES: Welcome back. As China fights to contain the Wuhan coronavirus, it is issuing a dire new warning. People can spread it before any symptoms appear.

CHURCH: Yes. That presents a major challenge for authorities trying to screen people for the virus. China has confirmed more than 2,700 cases and 80 deaths. There are at least five cases in the United States, with the latest being confirmed in Arizona. Two cases had been confirmed in California, and one each in Illinois and Washington State.

[03:39:58]

Now, all of those infected are people who had recently traveled to Wuhan in China. CNN has learned that just -- just more than 100 people from 26 states are under -- or they're being checked for the virus. About a quarter have tested negative.

HOLMES: Now, South Korea has also confirmed four cases. For the latest, CNN's Paula Hancocks is live for us in Seoul. Our David Culver is in Beijing.

Very worried. I mean, the Chinese, David, have done this containment policy, but this latest news about how you can be -- you can have it, but not be symptomatic is very worrying because people must have traveled all over the world like that.

DAVID CULVER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Michael, we were monitoring that press conference on Sunday as that was announced. And we were shocked by that. That was very surprising to hear. And I think that's what's starting to get a lot of attention here, is the claim from these health officials that they believe that within the first one to 14 days, which is the incubation period of potentially having been exposed, that you could possibly be a carrier and transmit it to another individual.

So that extends the safe period up to 14 days where they are trying to essentially have people self-quarantine if they believe they have been exposed. But it also raises some questions.

We've got these airport security screenings, these railway security screenings where they are even doing it at hotels, checking your temperature as you walk in, or walk through at some of the gates. And you've got to wonder if those are going to be that effective given this update from health officials. Nonetheless, they are carrying on with those.

They're also moving forward with some other containment efforts. We've talked about the centralized quarantine. Well, those hospitals are rapidly going up. We know one of them is scheduled to be done within the next few days. That will hold at least a thousand patients.

The second one likewise to be built pretty quickly, about two weeks' time total, that's another 1,300 patients. And then deployments are underway. They've got at least 1,600 medical personnel who went out yesterday. That's in addition to another 1,300 already on the ground.

Now, the shortage of supplies has been something that we have been reporting on. We've been speaking with health care workers who are in Wuhan. They have expressed a lot of concern about lacking goggles, masks, even the hazmat suits. And that was acknowledged by health officials.

They said that they're working to try to speed up some of the production of those items. Particularly the hazmat suits. Those protective suits are really lacking in supply, and they need about 100,000 a day, they estimate. That's three million a month. Currently they're only producing 30,000 a day.

So, what are they doing? In the midst of this holiday time, they're bringing people back to work, back into the factories to start up production to try to meet those demands.

We've also heard that the lunar New Year holiday will be extended. We've told you it's been extended at least three days till February 2nd. There is discussion, Michael, that they will extend it even further so as to keep these folks from coming together and hopefully stop the spread.

HOLMES: All right, David, thank you so much. David Culver there in Beijing for us. CHURCH: All right. We do want to go to Paula Hancocks now who is

standing by in Seoul, South Korea. So, Paula, we know now four confirmed cases of the virus there in South Korea. Talk to us about how authorities are dealing with this and, of course, with this new information about the incubation period, which is concerning everyone across the globe.

PAULA HANCOCKS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Rosemary, South Korea has just in the past few hours raised the alert level so they are at the second highest level that they can be now. The practicalities behind this means that the government is now in charge as opposed to the CDC.

So, there will be an emergency task force set up. We know that there have been emergency meetings with government officials, and they've designated this hospital here, this is the national medical center, to be the main area that receives patients.

There is one patient already in the building behind me. And looking through, you can see personnel and the medical staff wearing hazmat suits. They're taking no chances. They've also got this tent set up so that people who do arrive do not mingle with the general hospital patients. They are tested very quickly and to make sure they're not mingling.

This is something we're seeing in the region around the world, this sort of trying to segregate those potential patients so that they can't infect anybody else within airports, within hospitals, within hotels.

What we are also seeing here in South Korea as in other countries is that they are trying to figure out how to evacuate their citizens from Wuhan itself, from ground zero of this virus outbreak.

So, they believe there's more than 400. South Koreans. The U.S. we know on Tuesday will be taking a charter flight to the area. They'll be taking out three dozen diplomats and their families.

[03:44:56]

And on top of that, they say that they, excuse me, could take more U.S. citizens out if they have the capacity to do that. We know Japan wants to do it. Australia say that they have around 100 young Australians stuck in Wuhan who want to get out. They're trying to figure out the logistics of how to get them out as well, Rosemary.

CHURCH: All right. Paula Hancocks bringing us up to date on the situation there in Seoul, South Korea. Many thanks.

HOLMES: And a bombshell revelation on the Ukraine controversy is adding to the Trump impeachment drama in Washington.

The New York Times reporting that former national security advisor John Bolton wrote in a draft of his book that the U.S. president told him that he wanted to keep withholding military aid to Ukraine until they helped investigate former Vice President Joe Biden and other Democrats.

Now, again, Bolton apparently wrote this in an initial draft of his upcoming book. It's called "The Room Where it Happened, a White House Memoir." A source with direct knowledge of the manuscript tells CNN the New York Times telling of Bolton's account is accurate.

CHURCH: The news has congressional Democrats demanding that Bolton must testify, adding to the uncertainty on whether the Senate will vote to subpoena witnesses for the trial.

CNN national security analyst Samantha Vinograd explains why.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SAMANTHA VINOGRAD, CNN NATIONAL SECURITY ANALYST: Senators did not need another reason to call Ambassador Bolton. There was an overwhelming set of reporting that he had information deeply relevant to this inquiry.

What we learned tonight from this reporting is that John Bolton may have the smoking gun in that he may have a firsthand account of President Trump directly linking an official act, namely, the provision of security assistance, to a personal political need, the investigation of the Bidens.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOLMES: Meanwhile, President Trump fired off a series of tweets about Bolton, writing, in part, this. Quote, "I never told John Bolton that the aid to Ukraine was tied to investigations into Democrats including the Bidens. In fact, he never complained about this at the time of his very public termination. If John Bolton said this, it was a need to sell a book."

CHURCH: And in just over nine hours, President Trump's impeachment trial will continue with his legal team resuming their defense on the Senate floor.

HOLMES: President Trump expected to hold back to back meetings with the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the opposition leader Benny Gantz in the coming hours. He's going to meet with Bibi Netanyahu a second time on Tuesday. This coming as President Trump prepares to release the long-delayed Middle East peace plan.

Now our Oren Liebermann is joining us from Jerusalem with more. I think, Oren, this was dubbed the deal of the century. But correct me if I'm wrong. All sides point to being a deal that will delight the Israeli rights, and almost designed to be one that Palestinians will reject.

OREN LIEBERMANN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Very much so. It is a long- delayed plan and a much-awaited plan. It's been ready for months if not more than a year at this point. We saw the economic part of the plan in Bahrain, the economic workshop some time ago, and now we wait for the peace part of the plan, the political part of the plan. And from all of the indications, from the Trump administration's

actions until this point, both for the Israelis and against the Palestinians, and the statements we heard to this point, this looks like a plan that will tick all the Israeli's boxes and then some, and none of the Palestinian's boxes.

We are expecting a near certain, I would go ahead and say certain, rejection of this plan from the Palestinians. One of the things we'll be watching for, of course, is reaction not only from the Europeans who are likely to reject this as well, but the response of the Arab states, the Saudis, the Bahrainis, the Emirates as well.

If they decide or give some sort of tacit approval to even parts of this plan it will put tremendous pressure on the Palestinians.

As you point out, President Donald Trump will meet not only Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, but also his rival Benny Gantz today. There will not be joint statements today but certainly expect statements on the side from both Netanyahu and Gantz.

It's not just the plan that we've been waiting so long for, it's also about the politics behind this. This very much looks like a gift, a political gift from the Trump administration to Netanyahu. With more than a month to go for the elections, and a tough reelection campaign for Netanyahu after he failed to form a government twice.

This looks like a gift to Israel's right wing. This may even give the Trump administration a green light to Israel to annex parts of the West Bank. And that would certainly be a political gift to Netanyahu as he faces indictment in three separate corruption cases.

So, all of that is the context in which this happens. Additionally, this -- the unveiling of the plan expected on Tuesday also comes on the exact same day that immunity hearings are expected to be voted on in Israel's Knesset.

So, it seems the Trump administration trying to help Netanyahu distract from his legal problems back home and shift the focus to a peace plan which we've been waiting for, for two years and the reactions to it. Michael and Rosemary?

[03:50:06]

HOLMES: Yes, good point. All as Netanyahu has legal troubles at home and an upcoming election certainly looks like a gift, but not one to the Palestinians.

Oren Liebermann, as always on top of things. Thank you so much.

All right. Straight ahead, we'll have more on the death of Kobe Bryant. A look at the relationship he shared with his 13-year-old daughter who was also killed in Sunday's helicopter crash. And the legacy that Bryant leaves behind on and off the court.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) KOBE BRYANT, FORMER NBA PLAYER: Tomorrow is not promised to anyone, and everybody must do whatever they can to help no matter how big or how small.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

CHURCH: Well, the night before Kobe Bryant died, he was honored by current NBA star LeBron James. He wrote Bryant's nickname, Mamba, on his shoes Saturday as he passed the Lakers legend on the NBA's all- time scoring list.

[03:55:00]

HOLMES: It was a big night for him, too. After Bryant's death, his name was once again on players' shoes all around the league. New Orleans player Lonzo Ball who played for the Lakers after Bryant retired, wore these shoes to remember the basketball great and his daughter Gianna.

Now, Bryant and his daughter were headed to a basketball game on Sunday in which Gianna would have played and her dad would have coached.

CHURCH: Yes. Bryant often spoke about the close relationship he had with his daughter, calling her the heir to his legacy. Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BRYANT: Coaching the kids is fun. It just kind of came out of nowhere because my daughter just decided she wanted to play about two and a half years ago. So, started coaching her a little bit, and then she made a local all-star team.

We really just kind of sit back and let them process things and figure things out because we are playing for the long game of them being the best basketball players they can be. But it's fun to sit there and watch them hoop.

The best thing that happens is when we go out and fans will come up to me. And she'll be standing next to me. They'll be like, hey, you have to have a boy. You and V got to have a boy, man, somebody to carry on the tradition, the legacy. She's like, oy, I got this. Don't need a boy for this. I got this.

(APPLAUSE)

BRYANT: That's right, yes, you do. You got this.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOLMES: My great memories is taking my son to the Staples Center to watch Kobe play in the game against Steph Curry. He remembers it to this day, yes.

CHURCH: Wow.

HOLMES: That will do it for us. I'm Michael Holmes.

CHURCH: And I'm Rosemary Church. Early Start is up next with Laura Jarrett and Christine Romans. But before we go, we do leave you this hour with the final moments of Bryant's last game with the L.A. Lakers in 2016 where he electrified the home crowd with a 60-point performance.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

END