NBC Nightly News with Tom Llamas - Monday, April 6, 2026

Episode Date: April 7, 2026

Historic mission over far side of the moon; Trump reveals new details about daring rescue of airman from Iran; Trump threatens Iran with attacks on infrastructure unless deal is struck; and more on tonight’s broadcast. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Tonight, history is unfolding right now as the crew of Artemis II goes where no human has gone before. The breathtaking new images as Artemis approaches the moon. It's flyby happening right now. The communication blackout as they go deeper into space than any human ever. And the powerful moment on board, the emotional tribute that brought the crew together in this powerful hug. Behind enemy lines, the stunning new details about how the U.S. U.S. located and rescued an airman deep inside Iran. The American invading capture for 48 hours, scaling cliffs while badly injured. The U.S. military deploying a massive deception force to throw

off the enemy. The three words the airmen set back that led to his rescue. Plus, President Trump's ultimatum to Iran, strike a peace deal by tomorrow night or else. Iran's response tonight. Savannah returns, our beloved call. colleague back in Studio 1A. Her powerful words on the strength it took to come home and her emotional message to the viewers. Tragedy in the water, the father killed saving his children from dangerous rip currents in Florida. His wife speaking out to us tonight about the final moments. A fiery close call caught on camera, the motorcycle erupting into a fireball, the rider engulfed in flames, children running for cover, how everyone survived. A woman.

Bites a toddler at this zoo enclosure at Hershey Park, why the parents are now being charged. And there's good news tonight, the last call, the veteran 911 dispatcher retiring the surprise callers that had her in tears. Nightly News starts right now. This is NBC Nightly News with Tom Yamas. And good evening. We are coming on the air as America is making history in space right now. Artemis 2 at this very very moment is flying by the far side of the moon. To do so, they've traveled farther from Earth than mankind ever has. And this was the view from on board earlier today when Artemis, now more than 200,000 miles from our planet, broke the distance record set by Apollo 13 more than 50

years ago. And listen here to the moment the crew marked that historic milestone. We will continue our journey even further. There is still work to be done. And tonight, as the crew witnesses history, it's a moment of suspense back at mission control because as Artemis goes into a 40-minute blackout with no way to communicate with Earth, and as they come out on the other side, they'll be able to share with the world what they've saw. It has already been an emotional day for them. Watch as the crew embraces in a group hug, and we're going to explain to you the emotional reason they all came together. NBC's Tom Costello starts us off tonight from NASA's Mission Control in Houston. tonight the first breathtaking images captured by the astronauts on board Orion

the moon is still getting noticeably bigger the first humans to ever take in a total view of the far side of the moon taking turns training their cameras on a long list of pre-selected targets on what is clearly not a dark side this is looking out the window and new craters some of them are super tiny most of them are pretty small on the great excited researchers pointing to the images in real time. There's a nice crater right at the South Pole. Their 252,000-mile mission, already a record breaker, as Orion flew farther into space than Apollo 13 in 1970.

Today, for all humanity, you're pushing beyond that frontier. Mission control, even sending a pre-recorded message from the late Apollo 13 commander, Jim Lovell. Welcome to my old neighborhood. The sweet record is not long lived. Then an emotional moment, as the crew proposed naming two newly identified craters, integrity after the ship, and another after Commander Reed Weissman's late wife, who died of cancer. Her name was close to Reed, the mother of Katie and Ellie.

All four crew members visibly emotional. Weissman blowing kisses to his daughters, with the moon growing larger by the minute. For four and a half a billion years, Earth has only seen one side of the moon as it orbits the Earth, much like a dancer circling their partner yet always keeping eye contact. They're completely surrounded by darkness. Oh my gosh, that was an amazing picture you just painted. For 40 minutes behind the moon, a planned loss of radio contact before emerging from the backside and aiming for home. Tonight, from Victor Glover to his wife. Hey, babe, from the moon.

So we mentioned that temporary loss of signal. It lasted about 40 minutes. They've already come out of that, and they're coming out of the other side of the moon. Coms are back, videos back, and radio checks are back. It's going to take a few more hours before they start to leave the moon's gravitational pull and start to be pulled by the Earth gravitational pull. And when that happens, they will start to pick up speed. Splashdown is going to be set for Friday off the coast of California.

you. Tom? All right, Tom Costello, Tom, thank you. Now to our other major story tonight, the daring rescue of two American airmen from behind enemy lines in Iran. President Trump revealing today one of them hid for nearly 48 hours and more than 150 aircraft were involved in this dangerous mission. Courtney Kuby now takes us inside that rescue. The harrowing high-stakes mission began at 10-10 Thursday night. When the U.S. military says it got word in F-15, call signs. dude 4-4 was down, and its two airmen had ejected into hostile territory. The details of the operations shared by President Trump and military leaders today. Over the next hours, the search and rescue task force crossed the beach, entered into

Iranian airspace, protected by a fighter strike package, and moved into the objective area, all under fire. The pilot was located first, with U.S. aircraft flying for seven hours in broad daylight to rescue him. Within hours of armed forces deployed 21 military. aircraft into hostile airspace, many flying at very low altitude being shot by bullets. An A-10 Wardhog and H-H-60 Jolly Green Rescue Helicopter both hit. The Wardhog ultimately crashed, but the pilot ejected safely. Several troops on the helicopter were injured. But the second F-15

airman, a colonel and weapons systems officer, still missing. Finally, on Saturday morning, the CIA says it confirmed the officer was badly injured but alive and hiding in a mountain crevice. He scaled clifaces, bleeding rather profusely, treated his own wounds and contacted American forces to transmit his location. His first message was simple,

and it was powerful. He sent a message, God is good. The president says the dangerous rescue mission was in the dead of night. The second rescue mission involved 155 aircraft, including four bombers, 64 fighters, 48 refueling tankers, 13 rescue aircraft and more. Some aircraft sent to the wrong area to confuse the Iranians about where the missing airmen could be, while small helicopters picked him up and brought him to waiting planes.

But wet sand grounded the planes, and replacement aircraft had to be brought in. We blew up the old planes, and we blew them up to smithereens. Tonight, both airmen now safe and getting medical treatment. At midnight 12 local Eastern time, Easter Sunday, more than 50 hours after the start of this operation, the Joint Personnel Recovery Center declared Dude 4-4 Bravo, both the front and backseater return to friendly territory. Courtney joins us now live, and Courtney, we're also learning tonight what brought down that F-15 in the first place.

Yeah, that's right, Tom. President Trump's saying a heat-seeking shoulder-fire. missile shot down that F-15, which just proves how difficult the war in Iran is. Because even as the U.S. has targeted Iran's missiles and their air defenses, one person with a portable missile can disrupt the U.S. campaign for days and cause this much damage. Tom? Okay, Courtney, thank you for that. The president also doubling down on his threat to bomb Iran's bridges and power plants,

if they don't agree to a deal to end the war by tomorrow night. Garrett Hake is at the White House for us with that part of the story. tonight the U.S. continuing to hammer targets inside Iran as the war enters its sixth week and the president counts down towards a Tuesday night deadline for Iran to strike a deal to end it or else. The entire country can be taken out in one night and that night might be tomorrow night. The president with an optimistic tone on negotiations. I can tell you they're negotiating we think in good faith. We're going to find out. Iran has denied holding talks with the U.S. but both sides. have acknowledged exchanging messages through intermediaries, a process the president bemoaned today. In fact, the biggest problem we have in our negotiation is that they can't communicate.

We're communicating like they used to communicate 2,000 years ago with children, bringing a note back and forth. Mr. Trump today insisting that any peace deal would have to include fully opening the strategic straight of Hormuz, which Iran has wielded as an economic weapon, disrupting global energy markets, and helping push the average cost of a gallon of gas to $4.11. We have to have a deal that's acceptable to me. And part of that deal is going to be we want free traffic of oil and everything. The president also expanding on this profane post from Sunday threatening Iran's infrastructure and invoking Allah.

If there's no deal by eight tomorrow night, warning, you'll be living in hell. We have a plan because of the power of our military where every bridge, in Iran will be decimated by 12 o'clock tomorrow night, where every power plant in Iran will be out of business, burning, exploding, and never to be used again. Democrats tonight blasting the president's escalatory threats as, quote, unhinged and illegal. What the president is doing is threatening war crimes. The American people already recognize that this illegal war of choice is a big mistake. Garrett Hake joins us tonight from the White House. Garrett, who's leading the negotiations between the U.S. and Iran right now? Well, Tom, the key American negotiators remain

the president's son-in-law, Jared Kushner, and his longtime friend, envoy Steve Whitkoff, who attended the briefing today. Iran denies negotiating directly with the U.S. at all, sending messages mostly through Pakistan. Tom? Okay, Garrett Hake for us. Garrett, thank you. Tonight, a familiar face is back where she belongs. For 65 days, we've watched our beloved colleagues, Savannah Guthrie, bravely navigate through a waky nightmare. Today, she returned to Studio 1A with a message of hope. Good morning. Welcome to today on this Monday morning. Surrounded by symbols of hope, including that vibrant yellow all over the studio,

Savannah Guthrie came back home. We are so glad you started your week with us, and it is good to be home. And with one simple message. Well, here we go, ready or not. Let's do the news. Yeah, so good to have you back. She did what she has done for years. guided us through the morning. SG, come on out here.

Come on back up. And when Savannah went out on the plaza, amid a sea of signs and more yellow ribbons, viewers brought a message to her. They've been waiting for it. How does it feel? These signs are so beautiful. You guys have been so beautiful.

I've received so many letters, so much kindness to me and my whole family. We feel it. We feel your prayers, so thank you so much. It's not just today. They've been out here. Every day. Every day.

Her mother, Nancy, now missing for 65 days. Through it all, Savannah says her faith has kept her going. And on this Easter Sunday, she shared a message with her church. I have questioned whether Jesus really ever experienced this particular wound that I feel, this grievous and uniquely cruel injury of not knowing of uncertainty. and confusion and answers withheld. But in the face of that uncertainty, today, as she said she would, she chose joy as her protest. It is the darkness that makes this morning's light so magnificent, so blindingly beautiful.

It is all the brighter because it is so desperately needed. This is what we celebrate. And I celebrate too. I still believe. And even with the return, we are still asking you if you have any information. Please call the FBI tip line. The number is right there on your screen. Okay, we're going to turn out of Florida and a family vacation turning into an unthinkable tragedy after a father drowned rescuing his children.

Tonight, his wife is speaking out to our George Solis. Ryan Jennings was a father, a husband, and a hero who gave his life to save his children. Because he was like my real life hero, like just as he went for everybody else. So, of course, like, that's the way that he dies. The Jennings were on vacation in Palm Beach County when police say Ryan saw his 12-year-old son, Jacks, a nine-year-old daughter, Charlie, struggling in the water. Without hesitation, the father of three dove in. He was holding up Charlie, but he was holding up Charlie, so he was ingesting a ton of water.

And Charlie said the last thing he said was to make sure she floated on her back, if anything happened. According to the incident report, officers arrived to find Ryan unconscious in the shallow shoreline, bystanders desperately trying to pull him to safety. Six around your facility with a male was swimming, pulled from the water, cardiac arrest. Ryan died shortly after arriving to the hospital. Rip currents can surge at speeds of up to 8 feet per second, enough to overpower even the fastest Olympic swimmers. This weekend alone, the toll was staggering, more than 100 rescues in Fort Lauderdale as

this ocean turned treacherous on spring break. For Ryan's family, Emily, the loss of her husband is unimaginable. And I don't know where I go from here. I'm scared. Emily also revealing they were expecting a fourth child tonight. She's refusing to let his story end with a tragedy. And I just think he was too good. Like, he was just too good for this world.

George Solis, NBC News. Such a terrible incident. Okay. When we return in 60 seconds, the close call, fireball, how everyone survived this motorcycle crash. That's next. We're back now with a wild scene out of a Texas neighborhood, an out-of-control motorcycle crashing and igniting into a massive fireball as children ran for safety. Ryan Chandler now with the video and the story. It all happens so quickly. A fireball erupting on the corner in a San Antonio neighborhood.

A motorcycle bursting into flames, sending shocked kids running. Watch the frightening close call. This rider losing control, sliding behind his bike as it explodes into flames, slamming into a curb just feet from kids and a playground. Still on fire, the biker runs to put the flames out. I was just baffled why there was a motorcycle on fire in my neighbor's yard. Robert Perez lives across the street and captured this wild video. It just was incredible that none of those children were hurt.

When I saw the video and I saw the motorcycle flying in the air and the flames, It was nothing short of a miracle that they didn't get injured in the process. Firefighters arrive minutes later. The bike mangled on charred ground. NBC's San Antonio affiliate reporting, The biker said he was riding too fast and is now recovering after surgery. According to the county sheriff's office, he suffered second-degree burns. The investigation continues as this neighborhood is shaken but grateful that all are safe tonight.

Ryan Chandler, NBC News. Wolf bit a baby at a Pennsylvania Zoo. The child had crawled near the wolf enclosure at Zoo America, part of Hershey Park, the wolf biting the 17-month-old's hand. Zoo officials said the toddler climbed under some fencing and reached its hand through the barrier. The toddler's parents have been charged with endangering the welfare of the child. The zoo in a statement said guests are expected to remain within designated areas. Okay, when we come back here on nightly news, the last call for the 911 operator who fielded hundreds of thousands of calls. But as she retires, it was the last ones that moved her to tears.

Who was on the line? That's next. Finally, there's good news tonight. A 911 dispatcher who spent decades helping people during emergencies moved to tears by her final callers. For 30 years, dispatcher Haley Franklin was a trusted voice on the other side of the phone, answering 911 calls in Stanley County, North Carolina. What's your name? The job met decades of 12-hour shifts. Station 90, brush fire, straightening. Helping people in some of their hardest moments.

But on her last day, when her final calls came in, the voices on the other end were familiar. This is your firstborn. For over 30 years, your voice guided strangers through their darkest hours. Your heart carried the weight of 1,000 stories, and your strength never wavered. One by one. Her loved ones, dialing in to share how much her years of service matter. Congratulations, hon. You made it. I'm so proud of all of your accomplishments. I felt my heart just about come out of my chest. Just to know that those people cared enough to do that for me, it just blew my mind.

The phone call surprise now going viral. I still feel like I'm on cloud nine from it. It's still very emotional and still feels almost like a dream sometimes. You never know what people are going through. So just be nice. Happy retirement, Mama. I love you. Haley Franklin, we thank you for your service and congratulations on your retirement.

Well earned. That's nightly news for this Monday. I'm Tom Yamas. Thanks so much for watching tonight and always. We're here for you. Good night. 4320, go ahead with your traffic.