Plane Crashes Into Spectators; U.S. Hikers Could Go Free Soon
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Nine people are dead, more than 50 others injured after a World War II era plane crashed in Reno, Nevada. The P-51 Mustang was taking part in the Nevada Air Race when something went horribly wrong. It narrowly missed a grandstand packed with spectators and slammed into an area containing boxed seats. We'll go live to the scene in a few moments. And still no word from Iran on whether two U.S. citizens are either out of prison or will be shortly. Iran's president said a few days ago that he expects Josh Fattal and Shane Bauer to be released. They were arrested two years ago on spy charges. And three people are hurt today in India after a bomb went off at this private hospital. It happened in the heavily visited area of Agra where the Taj Mahal was located. Police say the bomb went off in the reception area blowing out the windows. Last weekend a briefcase bomb killed 11 people in New Delhi. Former U.S. Senator Charles Percy is dead. The moderate Illinois Republican served in the Senate for nearly 20 years and eventually became the chairman of the powerful foreign relations committee. In recent years he was battling Alzheimer's disease. Percy died today at the Washington, D.C. hospice. He was 91 years old. Federal investigators are on the scene of a deadly plane crash at a Reno, Nevada, air show. They are trying to determine what caused the vintage P-51 Mustang to lose control and slam into the ground, killing its veteran pilot and six others. Dozens of people were injured. Our Dan Simon is in Reno. What are you learning about this crash, Dan?</s>DAN SIMON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Fred, there is a press briefing that's going on right now behind me. The biggest headline is that authorities just announced that the death toll has climbed considerably. Three people were said to have died from this crash. Now the death toll has risen to nine. That coming from Dave Evans with the Reno Police Department, who just spoke about it moments ago. Take a look.</s>DAVE EVANS, RENO POLICE DEPARTMENT: Fifty four patients from the scene here to area hospitals. Of those 54, hospitals reported two fatalities. We also have a total of seven fatalities we know of at this time on the tarmac including the pilot. 17 folks are still being treated at local hospitals. And a total of 24 have been treated and released.</s>SIMON: We have also learned that the NTSB walked the scene this morning. The investigators took a look at the wreckage. They also discovered this component that we have been talking about throughout the day which is called the elevator tab lift. There is some speculation that that's what may have caused the plane to go down. There is photographic evidence that shows a part of the plane dislodging from the aircraft in the air. They actually did find a component on the ground. At this point they really can't link the two. They can't definitively say that's the part that came off the plane but of course, they're going to be zeroing their efforts in looking at that. Fred, of course, there is also a lot of talk about this pilot. 74 years old. They're going to be looking at his record. At this point they have said that he's been a very competent, very experienced pilot. But, of course they're going to be looking at everything. Back to you.</s>WHITFIELD: And again, just for clarity, people are just getting updated as we get information from federal authorities there. Nine people in all were killed from that crash. Thanks so much, Dan Simon. All right. Developing now in Iran where two U.S. citizens could be free again at any time. Shane Bauer and Josh Fattal are hikers who claim they crossed into Iran accidentally. They have been in prison on espionage charges for two years now. Let's go live to CNN's Mohammed Jamjoom. He is in Oman today. So Mohammed, what more are we hearing and why do the lawyers for these two feel so confident?</s>MOHAMMED JAMJOOM, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, it's been several hours since we have heard substantial updates from anybody with the Iranian government. The last person who made any comments on the record. According to a Simi (ph) official news agency in Iran, the foreign minister was quoted today as saying "the judiciary would have the final word on when the hikers would be released." Based on reports he is seeing in the media he believed that leniency would be taken and that these hikers would be released fairly soon. Speculation all day was that Saturday would be the day the hikers will be released. The lawyer told us - the lawyer for the hikers in Tehran told us many times today that he was very optimistic that it could happen at any time. Why was he optimistic? It's complicated. But let me try to break it down. Basically, he went to the court today. He saw there was a document that was signed by one judge saying that that judge knew that the bail had been posted but yet one more judge still has to sign the document as well before these hikers can be released. The lawyer believes that this judge will sign it soon. The foreign minister seems to be indicating that he believes the judiciary will release these hikers soon as a humanitarian gesture, and yet nothing completely definitive yet. Why are we in Oman? Because last year the Omanis played an integral part in making sure Sara Shourd, the third hiker, that she was released on humanitarian grounds. The Omanis paid the bail for Sara Shourd. She came through Oman on her way back to the States. So a lot of speculation that the Omanis are now playing a role in trying to negotiate the release of Josh Fattal and Shane Bauer. Fredricka.</s>WHITFIELD: And Mohammed, it was $500,000 that had to be paid for her release. The same price tag for these two young men, too?</s>JAMJOOM: It's not completely confirmed, Fredricka. There has been a lot of speculation. But most of the people we have spoken with with knowledge believe that the bail has been set at $500,000 for each person who is still in jail, Josh Fattal and Shane Bauer. That would make it $1 million. Again not completely confirmed but most of the people with knowledge of the case that we've spoken with in Iran do believe that's the bail money that's been set at this stage. Fredricka.</s>WHITFIELD: All right. Mohammed Jamjoom, thank so much. All right. You can catch "Financial Fix" now - are we going to that right now? It's number one issue in American homes, getting your financial house in order. We're going to have that right after this.