NBC Nightly News with Tom Llamas - Friday, July 25, 2025

Episode Date: July 26, 2025

Southwest plane makes mid-air maneuver to avoid collision with another plane; DOJ completes two-day interview with Maxwell; Flash flooding and extreme heat as summer of severe weather rolls on; and more on tonight’s broadcast.

Tonight breaking news the intense close call midair near Los Angeles as a Southwest flight is forced to take action. The jet taking off then hit with two traffic alerts having to make sudden maneuvers. Passengers saying it felt like a free fall as some were thrown into the ceiling. Two flight attendants injured. It comes in a week of aviation close calls. Tom Costello with the late breaking news tonight. Ghislaine Maxwell questioned for a second day by a top Justice Department lawyer what her

attorney says she was questioned about. So will she get a pardon for cooperating? What President Trump said when he was asked that very question. The manhunt in New Mexico after a deadly shooting shuts down a college campus during student orientation. Chicago underwater, the late summer storms swamping the south side, cars flooded, the geysers shooting out of the sidewalks, the mountain travel mess as thousands of delays pile up. As much of the country bakes, 115 million facing heat alerts today. Cosmetic surgery chains exploding across the U.S. our

team digging through hundreds of lawsuits the patient who says she felt like she was skinned alive after being kept awake during surgery with the company says about her doctor and ob gyn surgeon not a plastic surgeon and happily ever after clutching a mop and wearing scrubs a member of the hospital cleaning staff gets the surprise of a lifetime just before her wedding will show you why the 62 year-old is now going viral nightly news starts right now. And good evening.

Passengers say it felt like a freefall tonight. Yet another close call in the skies as scrutiny deepens is enough being done to keep flyers safe. The latest a Southwest flight having to make a sudden maneuver shortly after takeoff from the Burbank airport. Passengers saying they were thrown from their seats, even hitting the cabin ceiling. Southwest saying two flight attendants were injured. It comes after a week of close calls. You'll remember, including a regional jet pilot having to take aggressive action when

he saw a B-52 streaking towards him at low altitude. We begin tonight with Tom Costello. And Tom, what are we learning about these alerts the pilot got in that Southwest flight? Tom, this happened at 14,000 feet as the Southwest plane was climbing out of the Burbank Airport headed for Las Vegas. A source with knowledge of the events says a Hawker Hunter, a vintage British fighter plane, came dangerously close to the

Southwest plane, setting off collision warnings and forcing Southwest to take evasive action. Tonight, a pilot forced to make a dramatic dive midair to avoid a potential collision with another plane. I've never felt anything like that. And I turned to the people that I was flying with and I was like, I don't wanna die. I was terrified.

I thought this was it. I thought this is how I go out. It happened on Southwest Airlines Flight 1496 from Burbank, Southern Cal to Las Vegas. Southwest says its pilots got two TCAS alerts, Terrain Collision Avoidance Systems, serious warnings that they could soon collide with another plane and must change their flight path immediately.

The pilots climbed, then descended, according to the airline. Steve Ulasiewicz was on board. That there was this large drop. I wanna say it lasted for eight to 10 seconds. Just complete free fall was like out of my seat, body out of my seat. People were screaming, just felt like pandemonium. Two flight attendants are being treated for injuries.

Yelazwich says he saw one of them. She looked disoriented, her hair was kind of all of a mess and they sat her down at the front and gave her an ice pack. No passengers injured, the flight continued on to Vegas where Southwest says it landed uneventfully. It's the latest close call in the skies. Just last weekend, this video from the North Dakota State Fair

captured a Delta regional jet banking and diving to avoid an Air Force B-52. And on Monday, an Aeromexico plane landing in Mexico City narrowly avoided a collision with a Delta flight cleared to take off from the same runway. Tonight, Ulaiewicz says he's just happy he's safely on the ground. Tom joins us again live. Tom, quite the moment when that plane landed in Las Vegas. Yeah, that's right. We're told the passengers all applauded the fact that they were on the ground safely and applauded the pilots who came out of the cockpit and

the pilots then were shaking the hands of the passengers as the passengers thanked them. The FAA, by the way, tells us it is investigating Tom. Okay, Tom Costello on that breaking news tonight. The Justice Department has finished its two day interview of Jeffrey Epstein accomplice, Ghislaine Maxwell, her attorney saying she was asked about 100 people who knew Epstein while President Trump today was pressed. Would he offer her a pardon? Here's Kelly O'Donnell. a hundred people who knew Epstein while President Trump today was pressed, would he offer her a pardon? Here's Kelly O'Donnell.

The president put an ocean between himself and the Epstein files controversy, arriving in Scotland tonight. While in Florida, an extraordinary two-day interview is over involving Ghislaine Maxwell, co-conspirator of infamous sex offender jeffrey epstein and deputy attorney general todd blanch who said he is pursuing information about anyone who committed crimes against victims of epstein today president trump was asked if he would consider a pardon or commutation it's something i haven't thought about it's really something recommended it's something I haven't thought about. It's really something. It's something I'm allowed to do it, but it's something I have not thought about. Maxwell's attorney says no offer of clemency was discussed or requested.

Listen, the president this morning said he had the power to do so. We hope he exercises that power in the right and just way. Notably saying his client opened up about those around Epstein. She was asked. Maybe about a 100 different people she answered questions about everybody. The deputy attorney general posted that the Department of Justice will share more about what we learned at the

appropriate time the president tried to distance himself from the specifics of the Maxwell meeting. She is talked to by a very smart man by a very good man Todd Blanch. specifics of the Maxwell meeting. She is being talked to by a very smart man by a very good man Todd Blanch. And I don't know anything about the conversation. In a 2010 deposition Epstein was asked about his personal relationship with several well-known figures including Donald Trump.

Have you ever socialized with Donald Trump in the presence of females under the age of 18. Though I'd like to answer that question at least today. The White House says Mister Trump kicked Epstein out of his club for being a creep, ending their friendship decades ago. Kelly joins us tonight live from Scotland, and Kelly, explain to our viewers, this is both an official and personal visit for the president. Tom, very much a mix of family business and government business.

The president will play golf at his Trump branded courses and will cut a ribbon with son Eric as they open a second course here in Scotland. And the president says he will meet with European leaders on trade and tariffs. And he predicted today a 50-50 chance of securing a trade deal with the EU. A separate deal for the UK is already done. Tom? Kelly O'Donnell traveling with the president. Kelly, thank you. We have breaking news now on an overnight shooting at the University of New

Mexico in Albuquerque that left one dead. Steve Patterson has our story. Tonight, a suspect in custody after a deadly shooting on the University of New Mexico, Albuquerque campus. We're in the east side, kind of center of this campus. Can you have UNMPD come out for us? Early this morning, New Mexico police say they were called to the Cassis Del Rio Student Housing Center where there were multiple gunshots. Inside, two victims, one with non-life threatening injuries, the other killed.

It's just crazy to think how close that was. My heart drops. I don't want anything to happen to anyone. Law enforcement closing down central campus for hours, telling students to stay indoors. A campus-wide alert warned. The suspect's still at large. Central Campus remains closed. Anyone on campus should continue to shelter in place.

The shooting comes on the second day of new student orientation. Incoming freshmen staying overnight on campus. This morning, lockdown and fear. I'm a parent of a student coming in freshman year. She was staying in the dorms at Hocona Hall when everything happened. We spoke to mom Renee Kubler embracing her 18-year-old daughter Addison after several terrifying hours waiting for word. We couldn't really like talk to the others or like do anything like that except like text.

This parent's worst nightmare averted. I'm just very grateful. It was super emotional. I know it could happen anywhere, but it was super emotional. Young students now recovering from a harrowing ordeal. Steve Patterson, NBC News. All right now to the severe weather rolling across much of the U.S. from thunderstorms to flash flooding and extreme heat. Emily Akettis covering it all for us. It's a hydrant. Oh my gosh.

Tonight heavy rains hammering the Midwest and causing flash flooding in Chicago, where cars inch through rushing water. This fire hydrant nearly swallowed as part of the city saw two inches of rain in a single hour. In New Mexico, emergency crews are cleaning up from these stunning scenes. After flash flooding led to water rescues and swept away this home. The latest bout of brutal weather rolling into the northeast and wreaking havoc at airports.

Ground stops due to thunderstorms in Boston, New York and Washington, D.C. A stark contrast to the glaring sun that baked some 115 million in heat alerts earlier in the day. Very hot, very sweaty, sometimes their mental status is a little bit altered. Calls for heat-related illness inundating New York's first responders. You're seeing more calls than ever. Yes, we're also seeing more calls that have life threatening emergencies.

While concerts in New Jersey and Maryland were outright canceled. Cooling tents and additional medics will play a critical role for bikers at this fundraiser for cancer research in Charlotte. We have got more ice than we have ever ordered before. Emily, it kind of joins us live from LaGuardia and Emily we saw it there in your report but still pretty bad when it comes to travel. Yeah that's right Tom the thunderstorms are adding

to those travel headaches already today more than 7500 flight disruptions across the country. A third of the flights here at LaGuardia have been delayed as major airports across the region are dealing with hours long ground stops, Tom. Alright, Emily, a metaphorous not a disgraced former Congressman George Santos, who reported to a federal prison today to begin serving a seven year sentence for fraud. What he said just before heading into lockup. Here's Ryan Nobles. Tonight, former Congressman George Santos begins his life as an inmate in the Federal Correctional Institution, Farrington, in New Jersey.

Santos, never one to avoid the spotlight, bid farewell to his supporters with a final ex-post showing him blowing a kiss with the caption. I may be leaving the stage for now, but trust me, legends never truly exit. Seven years in Santos admitting he's not prepared for life behind bars. I don't know that I survive it. I'm not a street wise guy. I don't know how to fight. He was forced out of Congress in disgrace, becoming only the sixth member of the House of Representatives to be expelled by his colleagues. You guys got to get out of Congress in disgrace becoming only the 6th member of the House of Representatives to be

expelled by his colleagues. You guys got to get out of my way it came after a scathing ethics report marked the end of his short-lived but outsize political career for having me my name is George Santos within days of his win. Press reports began to emerge revealing Santos was not who he claimed to be from his past business career to his education, and even something as trivial as a fake stint

on his college volleyball team. As the pressure mounted, Santos remained defiant. I will not stand by quietly. But soon the lies about his biography quickly morphed into a criminal indictment. Santos chose to plead guilty to a long list of charges. I know that my actions have caused disappointment, frustration, and a loss of faith in me. a criminal indictment Santos chose to plead guilty to a long list of charges. I know that my actions have caused disappointment

frustration and a loss of faith in me and for that and tonight Santos on day one of a more than 7 year sentence. Santos spent a lot of time publicly begging president Trump for a pardon but ultimately admitted that pardon was not going to come Tom. All right Ryan thank you thank you. In 60 seconds, our investigation into cosmetic surgery chains. The disturbing allegations our team found

reviewing hundreds of lawsuits about procedures like liposuction and tummy tucks, what we found, that's next. We're back now with cosmetic surgery chains rapidly expanding nationwide. Growing with them, the number of lawsuits over aggressive sales tactics and lax medical standards. Erin McLaughlin has our story reported in partnership with KFF Health News. When Erin Schaeffer lost a hundred pounds she had surgery to remove excess skin at the National Cosmetic Surgery Chain, Sunabello. I remember as I got off of the operating table.

I looked over and I saw a huge piece of skin. The first thing I thought was I was just skin to life at surgery eventually landed her in the emergency room with a life threatening infection. I realized wow this could be it very scary that at that moment. In that moment you realized you could die. Yes. Remove stubborn fat permanently. Schaefer says ads like this are what led her to

sonobello which advertises fast results and uses lidocaine for pain keeping patients awake for surgery. The company says that's because it's safer than general anesthesia. The local anesthetic is a common option for some cosmetic surgery. Schaefer says her first procedure, liposuction, went okay. She even messaged Dr. Manuel Herrera that she was doing great. But when she returned for the second surgery and he started to cut into her skin.

The pain that I felt was just unbearable. And I said, hey, you know, I'm really feeling this. And he says, you're doing such a wonderful job. Just hang tight. I started crying and he says, you're doing such a wonderful job. Just hang tight. I started crying and I said, please stop. I said, I can't, I can't do this anymore. Did he stop? He did not. He said, just take some breaths. Let's turn on some music. Schaeffer says it wasn't until after she was sick with a severe infection that she learned Dr. Herrera is not a board certified plastic surgeon. He's a board certified OBGYN surgeon who took Sonobello's six to eight week

unaccredited training program on liposuction and tummy tucks. Sonobello says the program is rigorous and is transparent with patients about surgeons qualifications. I trusted that he was a plastic surgeon. I mean he was at a plastic surgery center. Schaeffer is now suing Sunabello. The company has denied wrongdoing. Her lawsuit among more than 200 against cosmetic surgery chains,

reviewed by NBC News in partnership with KFF Health News. They include allegations of disfiguring injuries and more than a dozen deaths. Some allege the chains often exaggerate potential results and put profits before safety. Does Sunabello put profits over patients? No, it does not. We put our patients first.

Dr. Robert Centeno is a medical director for Sunabello. Dr. Herrera directed NBC News' request for comment to the company. So we asked Dr. Centeno about the pain Aaron Schaeffer says she experienced. While she may have had a situation that was uncomfortable, there are many different approaches we can use to get a patient comfortable when they're not having a good experience. As Dr. Herr did, starting to use talk of sthesia and coaching through the procedure.

We also asked him about patient complaints made to the Better Business Bureau. There are at least 13 complaints in which patients reported feeling excruciating pain. Can you think of any reason why a surgeon would not stop performing a procedure if asked explicitly by a patient? Well, to answer your question, 13 over 300,000 patients that have undergone this procedure. It is not unfathomable that 13 patients would have a negative experience.

That's really not the norm. Stick your head in. A year later, Erin Schaefer says she's still recovering physically and financially. Unless it's life or death, I don't want to have any procedure because I was so close to death. I was so close. And with that, Erin joins us now live. Erin, we know these clinics are expanding nationwide. How can patients protect themselves?

Experts say, Tom, if you are considering one of these procedures, make sure you consult with a doctor, not just a sales rep before making a decision and ask about your surgeon's qualifications. All right, Erin, we thank you for that. And we are back in a moment with a massive fire in Virginia today after a car exploded. Police still not sure why. That's next. We are back now with a video of a strange car explosion in Virginia.

Look at this. The car exploding in Arlington earlier with the fire spreading, damaging three more vehicles. The fire department said they put that fire out quickly and that nobody was injured. Fire marshals are still investigating but said it was not suspicious. Out West, a strip mall was gutted this morning

after a fire broke out near the University of Nevada, Las Vegas campus. The Clark County Fire Chief said 125 people were called to respond to the three-alarm blaze. At least eight businesses were destroyed and a post office branch. Thankfully, no injuries reported there. Alright, when we come back, the surprise that will make your weekend, the 62-year-old bride showered with love, now going viral. 62 year old bride showered with love now going viral.

Finally, there's good news tonight. A hospital celebrating the love of one of their own. Marissa Parra with more on the emotional surprise for a 62 year old bride. It was indeed the surprise of a lifetime for Sheila Williams. Surprise! Wearing scrubs and clutching a mop, the 62 year old was ready to clean a spill.

Welcome to your bridal shower! But the beloved member of this Winter Park, Florida hospital cleaning staff was instead swept off her feet. This is for me. We love you! Swapping her scrubs for a veil, the bride-to-be walked into a real life fairy tale. She kept saying to us, is this a dream? You can't fake the genuine reaction that she had.

Colleagues Hannah Heisdorf and Kayla Lightbody helped orchestrate the bridal shower break room surprise. We had so many people come on their day off. She is just such a joy and such a bright light on our unit. Since she's been here here she greets everybody with a smiling face and. I got she's just one like truly truly a wonderful deserving individual that raw pure gratitude, judging the

millions of hearts have now seen it around the world. Now even hotel and airlines offering to shower more love for the blushing new bride. They she'll marry the love of her life, Terry. Congratulations! Her story reminding us all that life's greatest moments are the ones you share with those you love. Marissa Parra and BC News.

Congrats to the new bride. That's Nightly News for this Friday. I'm Tom Yamas. Thanks so much for watching. Tonight and always, we're here for you. News.