operations commander, who called in the air strike, never put his eyes on the target, didn t see the target, and that is absolutely required under the rules of engagement. and there were so many problems with the aircraft itself. many of its electronic, critical to combat operations, had been knocked out, or were just not working properly. and the crew aboard that ac-130 never properly identified the target. now, here is what is at the crux of the matter, i believe. those ac-130s, are not supposed to be called in for air strikes, unless they are there to defend and protect u.s. military forces or afghan forces that are under attack and being overrun by the taliban or other militants. there was no fight under way. and those crew members aboard that ac-130 could see that. in fact, senior u.s. officials tell nbc news that the cockpit recordings, audio tapes, inside that c-130 reveal that some of
that the cockpit audio that was taken during that time, we re told that some of the military on board the air force special operations forces who fly those gunships and fire the weapons, expressed some concern about the target itself, and at least one person apparently questioned whether the air strike was legal. now, the people we re talking to indicate that it could be a war crime if, in fact, the crew on board, knew it was a hospital, and that there was civilians inside. nobody knows that yet. but the gun camera video, the cockpit recordings appear to be the key to this entire investigation. and about this idea that a tank went into the compound, we re told by u.s. military officials that it was an armored personnel vehicle of some kind, not a tank, and there was at least one american in the group as part of
taliban commander was inside. that jibes with what reports that i was receiving shortly after the strike, that they thought that the taliban was inside the hospital at the time. in fact they said they were shooting out at the time. they believed he was killed in the strike, that pakistani intelligence leader, but there s no evidence of that. shep. also mounting evident from the cockpit recordings that the pilots knew it was a hospital and questioned whether they were authorized to strike. i listened to people who were in the hospital who saily was nobody firing from anywhere and in fact they were on the phone with what they thought to be at least american control saying, you re bombing us. don t come by again, and then they d come by again and bomb them again. happen there been explanations? reporter: again, this is starting to peace together part of the explanation but again, this is just a part of it, and there has been a lot of conflicting explanations from the beginning. i rec
a capsized ferry, prison leadership changes and dramatic jump. let s zoom through some of today s other top stories. yet another ferry out of the philippines capsized today with 189 people on board. at least 36 people have died. the coast guard saying the remaining passengers were saved. officials believe massive waves and potential overcrowding are to blame for the ship overturned. now to taiwan where the national aviation safety council is saying pilot error caused the deadly plane crash in february seen in this incredible dashcam video. officials say the captain of the flight mistakenly switched off the plane s only working engine just moments before the crash. cockpit recordings found the pilot saying quote, wow, pulled back the wrong side throttle. the council is continuing to investigate with a full report expected next year. both pilots died in the crash.
cockpit recordings showing that lubitz coaxed the pilot out of the cockpit. to execute his plan of slamming the plane into the french alps. new this morning, australia, the latest country to adopt the rule of two. pilots can no longer be left alone in a cockpit for any reason. the u.s. adopted this rule after 9/11. several european countries adopted the policy after last week s crash. a horrifying scene out of fresno california. showing the danger that our heroes face. at firefighter falling through the roof of that house. fellow firefighters rushing in to rescue him. the firefighter did suffer serious burns. doctors do not know yet the full extent of his injuries. big drama for america s favorite llamas. remember that, i know you do. this is last month when they escaped. sending arizona officials on a chase. the usda says they can t make