NBC Nightly News with Tom Llamas - Monday, January 8, 2024

Episode Date: January 9, 2024

Part of Alaska Airlines plane that blew out mid-flight found; Biden has ‘complete confidence’ in Defense Secretary despite secret hospitalization; GOP candidates targeting Trump as Iowa caucuses near; and more on tonight’s broadcast.

Tonight, the troubling discovery by United Airlines after a piece of an Alaska Airlines plane blew off in flight. United saying it found loose bolts during inspections on grounded 737 MAX 9 planes. After the NTSB recovered the 63-pound door plug that flew off an Alaska Airlines plane at 16,000 feet. The rupture sucking out headrests, seat cushions, even passenger cell phones, and the growing questions about the warning lights on three previous flights. Also tonight, the new storm on the move. Blizzard conditions in the central U.S. Flash flood threats in the northeast on the heels of the first major winter blast of 2024. Al Roker is timing it out. The hotel explosion in Texas, windows and debris blown

into the street, multiple injuries. What we've learned, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin under fire after he failed for days to disclose he was hospitalized to the president and the public. What the White House is saying as Republicans call for him to be fired. And did he break any laws? The first U.S. moon lander mission in more than 50 years in danger. What happened after the unmanned launch? And the exclusive Olympic gold medalist Mary Lou Retton, her first interview since her life-threatening health battle. This is NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt. Good evening and welcome, everyone. There are major developments tonight in the investigation of that Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 MAX 9 jet

that suffered a mid-air depressurization and loss of an entire door window assembly called a door plug over Portland, Oregon on Friday. United Airlines, the only other U.S. operator of the MAX 9, reports inspections of its aircraft have found instances of issues in the door plugs, including bolts that needed additional tightening. Also tonight, we're getting our first look at the door plug section that's separated from the Alaska jet, falling into a residential backyard after leaving a gaping hole in the plane's cabin, enforcing an emergency landing. With MAX 9s temporarily grounded for urgent inspections, flight cancellations are mounting as Boeing and a major supplier fall under intense scrutiny. Tom Costello has the breaking news. Breaking tonight, United Airlines reports it has found loose bolts in some of its 737 MAX 9 door plugs

as both United and Alaska Airlines conduct FAA-ordered inspections on all MAX 9s in the U.S. Earlier today, the NTSB recovered the missing 63-pound door plug that blew out of the side of that Alaska Airlines MAX 9 Friday night, landing in a teacher's backyard. The plug will undergo a close inspection at the NTSB lab in Washington as investigators look at how and why the plane suffered a decompression explosion at 16,000 feet. Alaska, 72, we just depressed ourselves. We're declaring an emergency. We need you to send down to 10,000. While no one was seated in the nearest seats, those seats were left twisted and bent. The headrests and cushions sucked out of the plane, along with clothing and cell phones.

Nicholas Hoke was on board the plane. I was starting to text my girlfriend, my mom, my other loved ones, and didn't know if I was going to make it on the other side. It was a lot of intense emotions, for sure. The door plug that failed is held in place by bolts and pins, used to seal an extra emergency exit if airlines don't need it. The NTSB says on three previous flights, pressurization warning lights lit up in the same plane. Yet Alaska only restricted the plane from flying over water to Hawaii until technicians could evaluate the problem. It's early, but should Alaska have grounded the plane back then?

Certainly it should have been a warning sign to them, just on safety overall. But I think, you know, in this case, what Alaska will say is that they took measures to ensure safety. We have to see whether those actions were responsive or not enough. The plane's fuselage is made for Boeing by Wichita-based Spirit Aerosystems. Today, Spirit said, our primary focus is the quality and product integrity of the aircraft structures we deliver. Boeing today issued inspection guidelines for every airline that flies the MAX 9. As the FAA reiterated, the MAX 9s will remain grounded until airlines complete enhanced inspections, which include both left and right cabin door exit plugs. That takes four to eight hours each. Corrective actions must be completed before any plane returns to service. Meanwhile, Boeing's CEO has called a

company-wide Tuesday meeting to focus on safety. This MAX 9 emergency comes after two fatal MAX 8 crashes that grounded the plane, loose bolts on the MAX rudder system, production and quality control delays with the MAX 8, the 787, military planes, and Boeing's space program. Even an incident like this that doesn't involve any injuries or fatalities does serve to undermine, to some degree, the confidence in Boeing's ability to manufacture a safe aircraft. United and Alaska have canceled more than 300 flights again today, likely more cancellations tomorrow, Lester. And Tom, what's the status of the flight recorders, the black box recordings? Yeah, the cockpit voice recorder is on a two-hour loop before it's erased

and recorded over, and that's what happened. Investigators can't listen to crew conversations, computer warnings, the air rushing through the cabin. It's a big reason why investigators want a 25-hour recording, not two hours, Lester. All right, Tom Costello, thank you. And the country is in the grip of another massive winter storm, even bigger than the one we just saw, with heavy snow tonight from New Mexico to the Plains and into Iowa. Other parts of the country will see heavy rain and potentially damaging winds and flooding. Al Roker is here. Al, what are you looking at? Other parts of the country will see heavy rain and potentially damaging winds and flooding.

Al Roker is here. Al, what are you looking at? Lester, it's a coast-to-coast storm alert. Winter alerts for 53 million. Wind alerts for 135 million. And along the East Coast, 79 million under flood watches. And you can also see right now strong storms firing up. Tornado watches down through the Gulf. Nocturnal tornadoes, which are twice as deadly.

And in fact, we have wind gusts for 14 million people, tornadoes, some of them likely strong. EF2 are stronger from Houston to Panama City. Then tomorrow, that risk moves to the east and southeast for 26 million people. Strong tornadoes possible. Again, EF2s or more from Cape Hatteras, Savannah, down to Panama City. Rainfall amounts anywhere from five to seven inches of rain from Boston, especially down to the southeast. And Lester, we're looking at almost blizzard-like conditions, up to 12 inches of snow from Kansas all the way to the UP of Michigan. And there's another storm behind this one. That's one busy map, Al. Thanks very much. Also breaking tonight,

a possible gas explosion at a hotel in Fort Worth, Texas, causing heavy damage and multiple injuries. Dana Griffin is following this for us. Dana, what more do we know? Lester, according to the fire department, that explosion happened around 3.30 p.m. local time at the Sandman Signature Hotel in Fort Worth. The smell of gas was reported in the area, but the department has not determined the exact cause of this explosion. More than 20 people have been injured. One is considered critical and four have serious injuries. Video of the scene shows at least two floors of windows blown out with debris scattered along the street.

It's unclear how many people were inside at the time of the explosion. Investigators are asking people to avoid the downtown area. Lester. Dana Griffin with the update. Thank you. Growing questions tonight over the secret hospitalization of Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, who was rushed to intensive care and could not perform his job last week. But no one told President Biden or the public for days. Here's Courtney Kuby. Tonight, the White House says President Biden has complete confidence in his defense secretary, Lloyd Austin. Even after revelations, Austin was hospitalized in intensive care for several days and was unable to perform

his job and hid it from the commander in chief. The president not answering questions today. Are you still confident in Secretary Austin, sir? The president not answering questions today. It began Monday, January 1st, when the Pentagon says Austin was rushed to the hospital in an ambulance for complications following a recent elective medical procedure. Two senior administration officials say he spent at least four days in the ICU, but no one told the White House, nor Austin's deputy Kathleen Hicks, until Thursday, January 4th. The Pentagon says Hicks, who was on vacation in Puerto Rico, was given certain operational responsibilities on Tuesday, but was not told why. The Pentagon waited until Friday to tell the public about Austin's absence. Tonight, the Pentagon refusing to describe his medical issue, citing privacy. The defense secretary is a critical member of the president's National Security Council,

which can be called upon at a moment's notice during an urgent military crisis like an imminent attack. In Austin's mystery absence happening during a time of rising Mideast tensions, with U.S. bases in Iraq and Syria attacked at least 14 times during his hospitalization. And Houthi rebels continuing to target ships in the Red Sea. Republicans say Austin broke the law and needs to go. Republican frontrunner Donald Trump writing, Failed Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin should be fired immediately for improper professional conduct and dereliction of duty. It raises questions about Joe Biden's competence and whether he's really in charge

at the White House. This is a shocking breakdown in the chain of command. Tonight, Austin is still in the hospital. This weekend, writing, I recognize I could have done a better job ensuring the public was appropriately informed. I take full responsibility for my decisions about disclosure. Tonight, the Pentagon says it will review whether Austin broke any laws by being off the job for days without telling the president. And late today, a top Democratic senator saying this controversy is not over by a long shot. Lester. And Courtney, you made the point. This is all coming with regional tensions only growing in the Mideast. Yeah, that's right, Lester. The Iranian Bakhuthi militia continues to threaten ships in the Red Sea.. Yeah, that's right, Lester. The Iranian-backed

Houthi militia continues to threaten ships in the Red Sea. But tonight, U.S. officials tell us the Pentagon has prepared options to strike back if ordered. Lester. Courtney Hubie tonight. Thank you. With the Iowa caucuses looming, new attention tonight on frontrunner Donald Trump. President Biden slamming Mr. Trump and his supporters over January 6th. Well, Mr. Trump is firing back. Garrett Haik is in Iowa. Tonight, one week until Iowa formally kicks off the 2024 presidential campaign. Republican candidates targeting the overwhelming favorite frontrunner, Donald Trump.

He was really good at breaking things. He just wasn't good at fixing them. Today, President Biden also taking aim, slamming Mr. Trump and his supporters for downplaying January 6th. The MAGA Republicans led by a defeated president is trying to steal history now, telling us that violent mob was, I quote, a peaceful protest. Mr. Trump recently attacking President Biden, saying the president is trying to distract from his record by fear-mongering over January 6th, falsely labeling those convicted of crimes connected to the attack as hostages. They ought to release the J6 hostages. They've suffered enough. The Republican frontrunner preparing to attend a court hearing in his election interference case tomorrow. Mr. Trump accusing the president of weaponizing the DOJ against him. A view rallying both his

supporters here. When they are indicting him, we are being indicted. And even voters like Melissa Nobles, who plans to support a different Republican candidate. So you think it's all purely political? Oh, it's just it's just to keep him out of from running. And that's crap. I mean, I may not like the guy may never voted for him, but he has the right to run. And then there's this weather. The snow has already canceled multiple campaign events today and caucus night could be the coldest on record. Lester. All right, Garrett Hake. Thanks. It's 60 seconds trouble after the first U.S. moon launch in more than half a century. The late details. And with President Biden's support slipping among critical black voters, is his message resonating? What voters

are saying. The first U.S. mission to land on the moon in more than 50 years is in jeopardy tonight. Just hours after this morning's launch, Astrobotic Technology, the private company behind the mission, said the unmanned spacecraft developed a critical fuel leak. The issue could prevent the Peregrine lander from touching down February 23rd, as planned. With polls showing some black voters turning away from President Biden, today he made a direct appeal at the church where a brutal act of racial violence took place nine years ago. Gabe Gutierrez reports from South Carolina. At Charleston's Mother Emanuel AME Church, President Biden today honored nine black worshipers massacred in 2015 by a white supremacist. This is a poison throughout our history. It's ripped this nation apart.

This has no place in America. The president forcefully trying to link racial violence to the nation's current divisions. But his speech briefly interrupted by protesters calling for a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war. Another sign of deep divisions among some Democrats. The president's visit comes as his support among black voters is slipping. In 2020, he carried 92 percent of that group. But a recent NBC News poll shows just 61 percent would now choose him over a Republican. Do you think that the Biden administration is taking the black vote for granted? Yes, his staff is. Fletcher Smith worked with the Biden campaign in 2020. Now he says he's very concerned about black voters staying

home this November. That administration looks like they don't want the black vote. I mean, you got to speak to the black people. Maurice Washington is a conservative who thinks the president focusing on threats to democracy won't work. It has nothing to do with bringing the country together. We spoke with a group of voters who want the president to do more on student debt relief and police reform. I just feel like it's been a lot of broken promises. I think the main issue for me right now is feeling like I am a priority for the people that are in charge. It's clear, based on what the people are asking for, that he's not here to serve us. The Biden campaign insists the president has taken action on those issues.

The question now, Lester, will voters give him credit for it? All right, Gabe Gutierrez, thank you. Up next, with hundreds of sudden deaths of young children each year, a new study points to a possible cause. What parents need to know. A major health alert. Every year in the U.S., an estimated 400 families are devastated by the sudden death of a toddler or young child, often with few answers. But a new study has found a possible cause. Here's Kate Snow.

Katie Schakowsky Fell and Justin Fell have two beautiful children, but their youngest, Cammie, used to have a twin brother, Hayes. Tell me about Hayes. He was one of the happiest little boys that you'd meet. Loved to dance. Loved to dance. You would tell him, say, give me a wiggle wiggle, and he'd go, try it, Hayes. Right before his first birthday, Hayes had a seizure accompanied by fever, what's called a febrile seizure. He had four more in the months that followed. What were those months like for you guys? Exhausting, terrifying. What were the doctors saying? All of them said to us, these are simple febrile seizures. He's going to grow out of it. I had one doctor look me in the eye and say, if he's going to have a seizure,

this is the one you want him to have. In November 2022, they sang to Hayes and his twin at bedtime. The family's baby monitor camera captured the moment. I love you. The next morning, Justin found Hayes in his crib, not moving. I mean, we both sat on the floor next to our kitchen, you know, our refrigerator, just, you know, holding our heads in our hands. You can't process reality. I just remember saying over and over again, I don't understand. I don't understand what happened. It's a healthy 17-month-old boy.

He was fine. And that's all I kept saying to him. I'd go, he was fine last night. Why didn't he wake up? They joined a registry of more than 300 families with a sudden unexplained death of a child started a decade ago at NYU. I've been looking for the answers for 25 years and we are finally finding the answers. Research assistant professor Laura Gould was driven by her own story. In 1997, my 15-month-old daughter, Maria, did not wake up,

and no one could answer my questions or explain what happened. In a new study published in the medical journal Neurology, she and neurologist Dr. Oren Davinsky zeroed in on the Fells and four other families who had continuous video from crib cameras the night their toddlers died. We found a smoking gun. We found in the cases where we had good recordings, clinical evidence of a convulsive seizure. Febrile seizures affect up to 4% of children six months to six years old in America. Deaths are extremely rare. Doctors often tell parents that these seizures, these kinds of seizures are not a big deal. They're going to be okay. Should they change that message? I think they should change it a bit and say there's an incredibly tiny risk that there could be a death related and there

might be preventive measures if you wanted to take them. There are devices and wearables like socks to monitor children's oxygen levels during sleep. The Fells wish they had known for Hayes. If parents can be warned that this is a possibility and they can be given that opportunity, like I would give anything to have had that opportunity to try, to try and save him. If he can help give other parents that opportunity, that's a beautiful legacy for him to have. They hope this new study ignites more research to save other toddlers. Kate Snow, NBC News, Baltimore. We'll take a break here.

Coming up, Olympic gold medal gymnast Mary Lou Retton opens up about her serious health struggle. Hoda Kotb's exclusive interview is next. Finally, the exclusive interview with Olympic legend Mary Lou Retton, speaking out for the first time since her health battle about her road to recovery. Here's Stephanie Gosk. It was an unforgettable Olympic moment. Now, nearly four decades later, gold medal winner Mary Lou Retton is staring down a much tougher battle. I am on oxygen. I feel like you're in a very kind of vulnerable state.

Very much so. It's hard. Speaking exclusively with Hoda Kotb about the rare pneumonia she has been fighting since October. And usually my interviews are, oh yes, it felt great to win the Olympics, you know. This is different. This is serious and this is life. The pneumonia hit quickly from feeling out of breath to collapsing at home. An alert neighbor realized something was wrong. And she came in the house. She knows my code and and saw me and found me. So Magda pretty much saved my life. Retton would spend roughly a month in the hospital. At one point, doctors told her daughters

she may not make it. And we said a prayer and... They were saying their goodbyes to me. Honestly. I can't even, I mean, like... It was crazy. I'm so sorry. Beyond the illness, Retton says she did not have health insurance. Her daughter created a fundraiser triggering an outpouring of support. The Olympian grateful for it all. I have no idea what the future holds for me. I mean, I wish I had answers, but I would never give up. It's not in me.

The recognizable spirit of a champion that Mary Lou Retton has to this day. Stephanie Gosk, NBC News. And that's nightly news for this Monday. Thanks for watching, everyone. I'm Lester Holt. Please take care of yourself and each other. Good night.