US diplomat describes flight home with Brittney Griner: 'A patriotic person'

US Special Envoy for Hostage Affairs Roger Carstens described his experience greeting American basketball player Brittney Griner on the tarmac in the UAE after a prisoner swap.

"It’s always kind of an exciting moment when you jump on the other country’s plane and walk up to a person and, in this case, Brittney. And I’ll tell you what I told her, ‘Brittney, my name is Ambassador Roger Carstens. I’m with the U.S. Department of State. And on behalf of the President of the United States, Joe Biden, and Secretary of State Tony Blinken, I’m here to take you home,’" Carstens told CNN host Dana Bash. "And at that moment, I think every person starts to realize that it’s going to happen – it’s setting in. Certainly, Brittney felt that way."  Danielle Wallace is a reporter for Fox News Digital covering politics, crime, police and more. Story tips can be sent to danielle.wallace@fox.com and on Twitter: @danimwallace. 

"When she finally got onto the U.S. plane. I said, ‘Brittney, you must have been through a lot over the last ten months. Here's your seat. Please feel free to decompress. We'll give you your space.’ And she said, ‘Oh, no. I've been in prison for ten months now, listening to Russian. I want to talk. But first of all, who are these guys?’" Carstens said. "And she moved right past me and went to every member on that crew, looked them in the eyes, shook their hands and asked about them, got their names. Making a personal connection with them. It was really amazing."