NBC Nightly News with Tom Llamas - Friday, February 7, 2025

Episode Date: February 8, 2025

Missing plane in Alaska with 10 people believed onboard; Trump Says Musk Will Look At Cutting Pentagon And Education Spending; DHS Secretary Noem Visits Gitmo Detention Site for Undocumented Migrants; and more on tonight’s broadcast.

Tonight, the breaking news and the missing plane mystery along the coast of Alaska. Radar contact lost, two-five miles east, known VOR. The desperate search with ten people believed to be on board the Coast Guard, exploring the freezing waters in snowy and icy conditions, a plane matching the description of the plane just located. Just in, the federal judge halting President Trump's efforts to gut USAID's workforce, Cruz physically removing the sign off its headquarters. It's just part of the president's sprawling plan to downsize the federal government,

eyeing education and the military next. Trump also delaying tariffs on small packages from China and saying he will fire some of the FBI agents who worked on January 6th investigations. Direct strike. The mother and daughter killed in a winter tornado and now two more powerful storms lining up behind it. 80 million under winter storm alerts. The intense new body cam showing heroic nursing home rescues as the Eden fire closed in. One month later, how did it start? A new video may hold the answers.

Ahead of the big game, the buzz about non-alcoholic beer. Our Christine Romans puts the brew's surging in popularity to the test. And the good news, how tragedy on Bourbon Street sparked more than one act of kindness. This is NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt. Good evening and welcome. There is breaking news in the search for a missing passenger plane off the coast of Alaska. The plane vanished off radar with nine passengers and a lone pilot off the coast of Alaska, triggering a massive search. Controllers lost control with the plane on what could have been a short flight from Unalakleet to Nome. Tonight, air traffic control audio revealing an urgent

call to the pilot, warning the plane's altitude appeared to be dangerously low, and then nothing. The airport reporting snow and ice conditions at the time. Our Tom Costello has late word in this desperate search for the missing aircraft. Tom? Lester, it's breaking as we speak. The U.S. Coast Guard just announcing it has located the wreckage of this plane. It believes it's the same plane. It is said to be 34 miles southeast of Nome, Alaska. Three people were inside. They were all deceased. No mention of the other seven on board. In the vast expanse of the Bering Sea off Alaska, a round-the-clock search for a small commuter plane headed north. Low altitude alert, Bering Air 445, check your altitude immediately. It was 3 18 p.m. Thursday when Bering Air Flight

445 suddenly went off radar roughly 12 miles offshore. No emergency locator transmissions from the plane. At noon today, the Coast Guard announced search teams have spotted something. At this time, there has been some sort of item of interest that has been identified by another aircraft. The Cessna Grand Caravan was flying to Nome, Alaska with nine passengers and a single pilot. The Nome Fire Department posting that the pilot told controllers he intended to enter a holding pattern while waiting for the runway to be cleared. Time-lapse video shows the conditions snow, ice, and 50 mile per hour winds.

There's zero visibility. Basically, you can't see anything from the air or the ground. Aviation experts say the pilot could have become disoriented in bad weather or hit severe icing conditions. This aircraft experienced some kind of event which caused them to experience a rapid loss in elevation and a rapid loss in speed. Today, the FBI joined the search using technology to detect cell signals. Alaska Governor Dunleavy, writing he and his wife are heartbroken by the disappearance of the Bering air flight over Norton Sound. It comes after a string of aviation disasters. That American Eagle regional jet and an Army Blackhawk chopper collided in Washington, 67 dead. And a medevac jet crashed in northeast Philadelphia a week ago, seven dead. The NTSB and FAA investigating

all of the incidents. The Alaska State Police tell us that all of those on board this flight in Alaska were adults. Their next of kin have been notified. Lester. All right, Tom, thank you for that. Just in tonight, a federal judge halting the Trump administration's midnight deadline to lay off thousands of workers at USAID. It's just one part of the president's effort to slash the size of the federal workforce. Garrett Haik reports now from the White House. Tonight, President Trump with the Japanese prime minister, as his administration

intensifies its effort to carry out his campaign promise to slash federal government spending. Elon is doing a great job. He's finding tremendous fraud and corruption and waste. Now saying he'll direct Elon Musk and his Department of Government Efficiency to look for wasteful spending at the Department of Education and the Pentagon. Is there anything you've told Elon Musk he cannot touch? Well, we haven't discussed that much. I'll tell him to go here, go there. He does it. We have very smart people going in, so I've instructed him go into education,

go into military, go into other things as we go along. The bulk of federal spending is Social Security, Medicare, programs like that. Would you like to see him look at those programs as well? Well, they don't really have to be looked at by him. They could be looked at by us. Social Security will not be touched. It'll only be strengthened. We have illegal immigrants on Social Security,

and we're going to find out who they are and take them out. Democrats today protesting outside the Department of Education. What are you doing here? I have a security responsibility. Get out of the way. Stopped from entering the building by a security guard. Donald Trump and Elon Musk must not and will not destroy the Department of Education on a whim. Another Trump cost-cutting effort, that buyout for all federal workers,

has now been accepted by more than 65,000 employees, according to a White House official, though a judge has temporarily paused the program. has now been accepted by more than 65,000 employees, according to a White House official, though a judge has temporarily paused the program. And tonight, signs are coming down at the U.S. Agency for International Development, which doles out foreign aid, as a federal judge late today pressed pause on the administration's plan to place thousands of workers on administrative leave. That move would have left as few as 611 essential employees left, the White House says, out of 10,000 just two weeks ago. When you look at USAID, that's a fraud. The Trump administration blasting the agency for what it calls wasteful spending, pointing to $2 million given to an

organization for gender-affirming health care in Guatemala and $13 million to put on a Sesame Street production in Iraq. It's perfectly appropriate to hit the pause button. If the Democrats want to be the guardians of permanent Washington in the abuse of taxpayer dollars, bring it on. Though Musk has also made many false claims about the USAID budget, and Democrats are slamming the cuts. Getting rid of AID makes us all less safe. It is also downright illegal. USAID supporters noting the agency provides food aid to 28 million children per year worldwide suffering from malnutrition and treats more than five and a half million children every year with pneumonia.

It's $40 billion budget, less than 1% of federal spending overall. The agency previously praised by the first lady. We want to show the world that we care and I partnered and I'm working with USAID. I've not only lost my job, I've lost my life's work. Rose Zelliger is a USAID contractor furloughed last week. We are grieving for the thousands of people around the world who are dying as a result of these callous actions. Meanwhile, the president was also asked about that newly compiled list of all FBI agents involved in investigating January 6th cases and if he's planning to fire them. No, but I'll fire some of them because some of them were

corrupt. I have no doubt about that. And Garrett, just in moments ago, President Trump posted new comments about his predecessor. Yeah, that's right, Lester. President Trump posting he is immediately revoking former President Biden's security clearances and stopping his daily intelligence briefings. The president saying Biden set this precedent back in 2021 when he blocked Trump's intel briefings. Lester.

OK, Garrett Haig, thank you. Tonight, communities in Tennessee and Kentucky are cleaning up after at least six tornadoes swept through overnight, killing at least two people. Kathy Park is there. Tonight, parts of the South recovering from terrifying tornadoes, some shredding homes apart overnight. There's a tornado right over here. In Tennessee and Kentucky, six confirmed tornadoes with with an EF-2 touching down east of Knoxville, killing two and injuring several others, including Richard Williams. He managed to survive, but barely. It just lifted the house, and from that, it just slung me everywhere.

He told us his ex-wife and his 22-year-old daughter lived next door and didn't survive. The loved ones are the worst. Everything else is material. Nearby, this family took cover with just moments to spare. We get in the tub. The house is rattling, deafening noise. So three of you were hunkered down in that one tub? Yes.

My son, I was on top of my son. My husband was on top of my son. My husband was on top of me. The extreme weather setting off tornado warnings across the state. Even putting this high school basketball game on pause. We are going to have a tornado delay. Other states also slammed by severe weather this week. In West Virginia, heavy downpours flooded roads and stranded drivers. Look at that. Coming right down off the mountain. While up north, a dangerous dose of snow and ice with more on the way. And back here in Tennessee for February, it is rare to have five tornadoes in one day when the state typically sees three tornadoes for the entire month. Lester. Kathy Park, thank you. And the

storms are far from over a whopping 80 million people nationwide on alert for heavy snow, freezing rain and dangerous ice in the days ahead. In the bullseye this weekend, the northeast. But the storms don't stop there. They'll track across the Midwest, plains and even down south well into next week. Breaking news now, a stunning development and arrest tonight connected to the death of a local Telemundo reporter on assignment at the Super Bowl. Sam Brock has the latest. 27-year-old sports reporter and anchor Adan Manzano was found unresponsive in a hotel room, according to police, and later pronounced dead, though the cause of his

death is still unknown. A woman, Danette Colbert, is currently behind bars after authorities say they tracked her on surveillance video entering his hotel room early Wednesday morning. A short time later, the female left and then came back, and then by 6 a.m. she left and never returned. Law enforcement located Colbert in New Orleans late last night, then obtained a warrant for her residence, where they found Manzano's credit card, his cell phone, narcotics, and a firearm, though they don't believe it's related to this case. Criminal history does include two instances where she drugged a victim. For now, she's being charged with property crimes, though police say that could change. Manzano was profiled by a Kansas City station about a year ago talking about covering the Super Bowl. I used to dream about it, but I never expected that it was going to come that soon. The young Telemundo journalist

and father lost his wife in a car accident last year. He was raising their daughter alone. His Kansas City station posting in part on its website, Adan was a true professional and a rising star who exemplified excellence in his work. Even the local soccer team paying tribute, saying he covered sporting KC and all sports in Kansas City with class and passion. Now questions mounting amidst a devastating development rocking the sports world and beyond. Sam Brock, NBC News. Now to President Trump's crackdown on undocumented immigrants. More are on their way to a detention center at Guantanamo Bay. As we have new reporting, the president is not happy with the pace of deportations. Here's Gabe Gutierrez. Tonight, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem visiting Guantanamo Bay as the Trump

administration searches for ways to hold the undocumented immigrants it's arresting. This week, ICE detention facilities at 109 percent capacity. We're looking for as many beds as we can get. Still, NBC News has learned President Trump has expressed anger that the number of arrests is not higher, according to three people familiar with the discussions at ICE and the White House. One source adding it's driving him nuts they're not deporting more people. It all comes as the new attorney general ramps up pressure on sanctuary cities, suing Democrat-led Chicago and the state of Illinois,

arguing they interfere with arresting and deporting undocumented immigrants. They are choosing illegal aliens over the safety and security of their own citizens. The lawsuits are against laws on the books in Illinois. Unlike Donald Trump, we follow the law in Illinois. Meanwhile, in South Texas, early this morning, we get another firsthand look at the front lines. I've noticed most recently not as much activity. What was once a record influx of migrants, now a trickle. We didn't spot one in five hours with Border Patrol. It used to be that the vast majority of migrants here would turn themselves in. Now, most of them are single

adults trying to escape. In 2021, this area saw more than 1,500 illegal border crossings a day. Now, less than 100. Have you ever seen it this quiet? Not that I can remember. Nearby, the state of Texas is offering the federal government 1,400 acres of land for a massive detention facility. David Porras is a first-time Trump voter here in Starr County, which voted Republican in the presidential election for the first time since 1892. You're here illegal. You break the law, you should be deported. And we're just learning that the Trump administration is now using federal prisons to house undocumented immigrants. Lester.

All right, Gabe. Thank you. We'll be right back in 60 seconds with a dramatic newly released body cam footage of wildfire rescues in California. The heroes who got nursing home patients out just in time. Welcome back. It is hard to believe it's been one month since the Los Angeles wildfires began. Tonight, new footage shows the dramatic evacuations as flames surrounded neighborhoods, including a nursing home, all as there are new clues tonight about the cause of the deadly fires. Here's Liz Kreutz. Tonight, body camera footage showing a glimpse into the harrowing evacuations as the Eaton fire exploded in Altadena. Police officers going door to door telling people to get out. Police department

evacuate immediately. Officers rushing into this nursing home rescuing several elderly patients before it went up in flames. Building's on fire man we gotta go. Yeah go. One by one rolling them out or picking them up. I got you I got you turn turn there you go let's take them up. At a nearby elderly home, this footage showing deputies discovering a 100 year old woman alone inside. These dramatic videos highlighting the terrifying initial hours of the Los Angeles fires, which sparked one month ago today, killing 29 people and destroying thousands of homes. As investigators still look into the cause, SoCal Edison is now acknowledging in a new filing that videos like these, appearing to show flames at the base of one of their transmission lines,

suggests a possible link between their equipment and the start of the Eaton fire. But the utility also saying they still haven't identified evidence to confirm they're responsible. And the cause of the Palisades fire is also still under investigation, with authorities continuing to look into potential arson or whether a small brush fire that officials thought had been put out reignited. Lester. Okay, Liz, thank you. We'll take a break right here when we return the buzz over non-alcoholic brews surging in popularity. But how do they taste? As you make that last grocery run before the Super Bowl on Sunday, you may want to stock up on the growing trend before

the big game. Christine Roman's now on the beer choice that's surging in popularity. At this neighborhood bar, the beer list with something for everyone. We basically have modified our entire beverage program to accommodate more non-alcoholic drinkers. James Wells is a manager at Amity Hall in New York, popular with college students and local sports fans. So you've been here six years. What are the trends you're seeing now? It's definitely the non-alcoholics are on a rise. They're stocking more non-alcoholic options than ever before, both beer and mocktails, which generally cost close to the same as drinks with alcohol. Nationwide sales of these beverages are surging, up 26 percent in the past year, topping 800 million dollars, tapping into a trend of people drinking

less than they did during the pandemic. A recent Gallup poll found while 67 percent of Americans said they drank alcohol in 2022, that figure dropped to 58 percent in 2024. Consumers have opted for a moderation mindset. Kaylee Theriault researches trends in alcohol and beverages. They may have over-consumed to their liking during the at-home period during COVID. And coming out of that, they were a little more focused on health and wellness. Non-alcoholic beer making up 84% of sales in the category. Alcohol-free. Heineken made history in 2023 advertising alcohol-free beer in the Super Bowl for the first time. Would you consider playing us?

For the ultras. This Sunday, you'll see Michelob UltraZero when the Eagles take on the Chiefs. As for the part that really matters. This tastes better than your grandfather or grandmother's non-alcoholic beer. Totally. I mean, every spirit does, to be honest with you. I mean, it tastes like beer. Yeah. Research shows most zero-proof drinkers buy alcohol, too, often switching between both in one evening. At Amity Hall, James Wells says the younger the patron, the more likely to reach for a non-alcoholic drink. I think people are trying to just have an overall even keel experience,

and I think that that involves sometimes alcohol, sometimes not. Which this Sunday could help keep the drama on the field. Christine Romans, NBC News, New York. And when we come back, big hearts in the Big Easy. The Super Bowl surprise helping one man keep a promise after tragedy on Bourbon Street. And there's good news tonight. Just weeks after the deadly terror attack in New Orleans, this weekend's Super Bowl is giving one survivor a chance to keep

a promise to a friend. Here's Jesse Kirsch. Right now, the Big Easy is supercharged for Super Bowl 59. But for some football fans, this weekend is about much more than a party in the streets. I told myself I would never go back to New Orleans. New Year's Day, Ryan Quigley was badly injured in a terror attack on Bourbon Street. His best friend, Tiger Besh, was killed. What has this last month been like for you? You know what? It's been the biggest roller coaster ever. It's been terrible, to say the least, but it's also been so beautiful to see how many people Tiger has impacted. Tiger's story reached the Philadelphia Eagles, the NFL favorite for these former Princeton teammates. The Eagles invited Ryan to a playoff game and then to what he thought was just a team facility tour. It's okay if you don't, if you're not feeling it, but we would

love to have you down for the Super Bowl, man. The Eagles surprising Ryan with two Super Bowl tickets so he can keep his word to Tiger. I told him, you know, if we make it, I promise I'm going to take you to the Super Bowl. So, I mean, I love him nothing more than, you know, to still take him, you know. To be able to rewrite the story, to not let evil win, I mean, we're kind of taking our power back.

Keep smiles on your faces and love family like you never have before. Inspiring the world to live like Tiger from football's biggest stage. Jesse Kirsch, NBC News, New Orleans. And that is nightly news for this Friday. Thank you for watching. I'm Lester Holt. Please take care of yourself and each other. Good night.