CNN's Brian Williams scoop 'just got shot down’: Pilot interviewed 'no longer standing by his story'

CNN now backtracking on #BrianWilliams story in which pilot suggested helicopter had been shot.

— Chris Vanderveen (@chrisvanderveen) February 6, 2015

WOW! On @CNN now @brianstelter reports Krell, who @jaketapper also interviewed, is "doubting his own memory" and retracts. #BrianWilliams

— Blame Big Government (@BlameBigGovt) February 6, 2015

The man interviewed on CNN yesterday who said he was flying the helicopter carrying Brian Williams and claimed the chopper did indeed take enemy fire has walked back his story:

I've been urging Brian Williams to be fully transparent about what happened in Iraq. I'm going to practice complete transparency now…

— Brian Stelter (@brianstelter) February 6, 2015

The pilot I interviewed on Thursday about Brian Williams is no longer standing by his story. http://t.co/GyYahQAAVl

— Brian Stelter (@brianstelter) February 6, 2015

Pilot: "The information I gave you was true based on my memories, but at this point I am questioning my memories." http://t.co/GyYahQAAVl

— Brian Stelter (@brianstelter) February 6, 2015

Here's what I said on @CNN TV about Krell: http://t.co/NuNGUewqvB "In retrospect, I wish I hadn't shared the story at all."

— Brian Stelter (@brianstelter) February 6, 2015

As you’ll recall, Brian Williams also claimed to have “misremembered” the events of that day.

UPDATE: Pilot we interviewed is no longer 100% sure #BrianWilliams was on his helicopter. http://t.co/zdFDd3hNmC pic.twitter.com/i9ZZOE7MnR

— Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) February 6, 2015

Tweeters sensed something was going on when the Twitter account of the person backing up Williams’ initial story disappeared:

Pilot who claimed on CNN to be carrying Williams, and took enemy fire, has deleted his Twitter account: http://t.co/vTCJUOyiSz

— Michael Calderone (@mlcalderone) February 6, 2015

When that guy on Twitter said "Delete your account," he didn't mean it literally, buddy… pic.twitter.com/u1duOxEK8q

— The Nats Won The World Series (@EsotericCD) February 6, 2015

https://twitter.com/RobProvince/status/563721306332733441

The wheels have definitely come off.

Pilot, CNN backtrack on Brian Williams story:
"Stelter's scoop he talked about all day yesterday just got shot down.”http://t.co/NR9s2wUooe

— johnny dollar (@johnnydollar01) February 6, 2015

https://twitter.com/moorehn/status/563729875245473792

in fairness @CNN did have a good timeline of Brian Williams' increasingly-insupportable claims.

— Ursus, Director of Weather and Banana Programming (@AceofSpadesHQ) February 6, 2015

Editor’s note: This post has been updated to include an additional tweet.