Balloon Crash in Texas Kills 16; Trump Facing New Backlash
GEORGE HOWELL, CNN INTERNATIONAL ANCHOR: Disaster in the sky. A hot air balloon plunges to the ground in Texas, killing everyone on board. A political uproar. Donald Trump facing new criticism after his comments of the father and mother of a fallen Muslim U.S. soldier. And escaping Aleppo. Dozens of families leave the devastated city as the Syrian and Russian military announce more humanitarian corridors. From CNN world headquarters in Atlanta, welcome to our viewers here in the United States, and around the world. I'm George Howell. CNN NEWSROOM starts right now.</s>HOWELL: Good day to you. In the U.S. state of Texas, an accident involving a hot air balloon appears to have taken 16 lives. Federal authorities say there are no survivors, and if investigators confirm those deaths, it will be the worst hot air balloon disaster in the United States history. The balloon went down on Saturday in Caldwell County. That is between the cities of Austin, Texas, and San Antonio, as you see on the map. Our Ed Lavandera tells us what may have been a major factor in that crash.</s>ED LAVANDERA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It appears that investigators will be taking a very close look at the role that power lines in the area of where this hot air balloon went down might have played in this tragedy. Two sources tell us, one a law enforcement source, another a county official, tell us they believe the hot air balloon collided with these power lines igniting the fire and the flames on board inside that basket that essentially killed the 16 people believed to be on board that hot air balloon. The exact cause is not clear. So it's not clear what caused the hot air balloon to perhaps collide in to these power lines and what exactly was going on on board when all of this happened. So, that is something that investigators as they begin arriving on the scene and piecing together will be taking a very close look at. It could be sometime before the National Transportation Safety Board, which is the government agency here in the United States that examines these types of accidents, and it usually takes them weeks, if not months, to come out with an official ruling as to what caused the accident. But a witness on the ground described what she saw as that hot air balloon went down to the ground.</s>UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I don't think any of them even realized what was going on. Because we heard the popping sounds, and I didn't look in time to see the balloon go down. But, the way it went up, I don't think any of them even had any idea what was going on.</s>LAVANDERA: One other interesting note, a debate that has been going on between the National Transportation Safety Board and Federal Aviation Administration here in the United States, the NTSB several years ago was calling for more regulation governing these hot air balloon companies that operate these types of rides. The FAA pushed back on all of that. It's not exactly clear if these regulations might have made a difference in this tragedy that unfolded in Texas. But it is interesting to note that these debates about the regulations and how these companies are controlled and governed has been a topic of debate between these two government agencies here in the United States. Ed Lavandera, CNN, Dallas, Texas.</s>HOWELL: America's Choice 2016: Donald Trump being slammed for his remarks against the father of a fallen Muslim U.S. soldier who spoke at the Democratic National Convention. Khizr Khan gave a powerful speech on the last night of that convention. He denounced the Republican candidate for proposing a ban on Muslims, after his own son died defending the United States. Khan said Trump had no idea of what sacrifice means.</s>KHIZR KHAN, FATHER OF MUSLIM U.S. SOLDIER: Have you ever been to Arlington Cemetery? Go look at the graves of brave patriots who died defending United States of America. You'll see all faiths, genders, and ethnicities. You have sacrificed nothing and no one!</s>HOWELL: Saying that Trump had sacrificed nothing and no one. Trump responding to the searing criticism by saying, "I'd like to hear his wife say something", suggesting that she wasn't allowed. He also defended himself to ABC News by listing the sacrifices that he has made.</s>ABC NEWS HOST: How would you answer that father? What sacrifice have you made for your country?</s>DONALD TRUMP (R), PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE: I think I made a lot of sacrifices. I work very, very hard. I've created thousands and thousands of jobs, tens of thousands of jobs. I think --</s>ABC NEWS HOST: Those are sacrifices?</s>TRUMP: Oh, sure, I think they're sacrifices. I think when I can employ thousands and thousands of people, take care of their education, take care of so many things -- even in the military, I was very responsible, along with a lot of people, for getting the Vietnam Memorial built in downtown Manhattan, which to this day people thank me for. I raised and I have raised millions of dollars for the vets. I'm helping the vets a lot.</s>HOWELL: Trump also released this statement, and I read, quote, "While I feel deeply for the loss of his son, Mr. Khan, who has never met me, has no right to stand in front of millions of people and claim that I have never read the Constitution, which is false, and say many other inaccurate things." Trump's criticism has sparked widespread defense of the Khan family. Former U.S. President Bill Clinton called Khizr Khan's wife a Gold Star mother, while Ohio Governor John Kasich said the parents should be treated with honor and respect. Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton also slammed Donald Trump's remarks, saying the Republican has, quote, "something missing".</s>HILLARY CLINTON, U.S. DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Donald Trump is not a normal presidential candidate. Somebody who attacks everybody has something missing. He attacked the distinguished father of a soldier who sacrificed himself for his unit, Captain Khan. He's attacked immigrants, and women. He's attacked people with disabilities. It's a long list, my friends.</s>HOWELL: Speaking to "The Washington Post", Khizr Khan said Trump's words were, quote, "typical of a person without a soul." You can hear much more of Khan on the next "STATE OF THE UNION." You can tune in for a live interview right here on CNN. That is at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time, 2:00 p.m. London, only here on CNN. On now to Iraq, four people were killed after gunmen targeted a gas facility north of the City of Kirkuk. They planted several bombs near the station before Iraqi security forces took control. The attackers then fled. No one has yet claimed responsibility for the attack but ISIS has attacked oil facilities in Kirkuk before. Tunisia's prime minister has overwhelmingly lost a vote of no confidence. One hundred eighteen members of parliament voted to unseat him. Only three voted in his favor, 27 lawmakers boycotted the vote. He's faced growing economic and security problems during his less than two years as prime minister there. We are watching the pope's final mass in Poland. He's been spending the week in the European nation meeting with children who came from all around the globe for world youth day. A live report is straight ahead here on NEWSROOM. Plus, reflections, and prayers after a tragic event. We will take you to France where church services are resuming after last week's deadly terror attack on a priest. You are watching CNN NEWSROOM.