Page 2 - Jay Rawlings News Today : Breaking News, Live Updates & Top Stories | Vimarsana

>> i have a problem with the authorities at lufthansa that they didn't do their own mental evaluation mental and physical evaluation. this is a 650 hour pilot. they brought him on in my opinion with too little vetting. for one point, he should have been in other aircraft smaller aircraft to prove himself before being placed in the right seat of an airliner. >> jay, talk to me i don't think even in the united states once you become a pilot, you have to get a yearly medical checkup, doesn't include psycho analytical work right? not something that happens frequently here or anywhere else. >> this...

reporting the pilot pleading for the copilot to open the locked door yelling, for god's sake open the door as he furiously banged on that door. nbc news has not been able to independently verify the report. meanwhile, pope francis took time over the weekend to remember the victims during palm sunday services at the vatican. we start the hour with a reporter near the crash site and katy tur live in germany. what's the latest on the recovery operation? >> reporter: well, jose the recovery is continuing slowly as investigators have to be lowered from helicopters on the crash site an...

there. tom cost tell e low joins me now from washington, d.c. what's the latest? >> this plane left barcelona at about 9:32 in the morning headed for dusseldorf. the plane headed out over the mediterranean sea and came over southern france, as is normal for this route. we're told at about 10:47 a.m. local time the pilots declared an emergency. they then began descending from 38,000 feet cruising altitude down to about 5,000 feet. it was a rather orderly descent, 4,000 feet per minute over ten minutes. and then they went off radar and lost contact. the plane, at some point, the pilots...

Manufacturers, which are of course boeing and also pratt and whitney says its engines this today's accident, they manufactured those engines. both are offering their full cooperation as the ntsb investigates. >> melissa, thank you. kntv reporting at least two people are dead, up to 70 have been hurt. reached via form, the coroner's office tells msnbc they are not releasing any comments right now. but they statement could be available by 8:00. so we could get something 8:00 eastern here from the coroner's office. jay rawlings is joining me by telephone. he is a former american airlines pilot. j...

Who happened. >> according to sources, this particular pilot did not make a distress call before this crash landing. and jay, just so you know and our viewers know, right side of the screen there is a news conference in san francisco that is set to start at any moment. that news conference, by the way, we're told that mayor edwin lee will be there, the san francisco fire chief as well, joanne hayes white. when that does happen, i may have to cut you off, jay, just so you know. >> i understand. >> but based on your years as a pilot with american airlines, pilot doesn't make a distress call. how...