NBC Nightly News with Tom Llamas - Monday, September 21, 2026

Episode Date: September 22, 2026

Flights halted at major airports after equipment failure; Trump set for high-stakes U.N. meetings; ICE officer shoots delivery driver in Texas; 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, chaos in America skies, the tech meltdown, shutting down the airspace over much of the northeast. Hundreds of thousands of flyers delayed and canceled passengers stranded for hours. New York, Boston, Philadelphia, all hit. United canceling most of its domestic flights into and out of one of its biggest hubs with planes stranded on the tarmac, while the FAA took the drastic move of shutting down the airspace. organizations filing suit against President Trump after he banned three of them from the White House, will a judge force the administration to allow them back in? Plus, the president heads to the U.N., will he meet with the president of Iran?

And as fuel costs skyrocket, three major airlines say they're cutting back on holiday flights. Ice shooting in Austin, new protest and video from the scene after a man was shot by federal officers while delivering for Doordash. Cindy Crawford's son found dead. Police investigating if model Presley Gerber overdosed while in rehab. Questions tonight about how he got the drugs inside. Major merger greenlit the Paramount Warner Brothers deal now ago after more than a dozen states dropped their lawsuit with the company promised in return.

Can GLP1 suddenly make you go blind? The new lawsuit's alleging that one patient speaks out to us. stranded by the sea three tourists trapped by the tides, riding out SOS on the beach, finally rescued by Oregon firefighters. Country Club Crash will show you the moment a car plowed right into a pro shop. Watch this at a Massachusetts golf course, how everyone survived. Plus, there's good news tonight why the MLB stars are lining up for autographs from these kids. Nightly news starts right now.

This is NBC Nightly News with Tom Yamas. And good evening. We thank you for joining us on this Monday night. We want to begin with the total chaos for flyers across the country right now. After an air traffic control system and backup failsafe melted down earlier today, forcing officials to temporarily shut down most of the Northeast airspace. These were the scenes at airports packed with frustrated passengers as workers scrambled to get systems. back online. The boards at many airports looking like this one at Newark showing delay after delay after delay. United Airlines even canceling most of its flights there for the day. The outages

bringing these airports to a complete standstill from Philly to New Jersey to New York. So far, you see it here more than 6,000 delays for flights across the country, more than 1,000 flights canceled completely. All of it could be the result of this construction crew cutting into a key fiber optic line. We're going to explain. Tom Costello is at Reagan National Airport outside of D.C. He has a major update and starts us off tonight. Gridlock in the northeast today, the busiest airspace in the country. I think it's a little worrisome. My flight was canceled. Ground stops in Philadelphia, Newark, Teterboro, LaGuardia, JFK, and Boston. Hundreds of thousands of passengers delayed, diverted, or stranded. United Airlines canceling most Newark flights. Some delay, six

hours and longer spreading from the east coast to the west. And then we just sat in the airport for a little bit, and our flight was canceled. Bad timing as world diplomats are flying into New York for the UN General Assembly. We're completely shut down on departures due to an equipment outage of other facilities. The FAA says it happened when a communication circuit failed at its Philadelphia terminal radar center. Then New Jersey Transit says a construction crew cut a backup fiber optic line, releasing this photo, and that cut off critical air travel communications. All data coming through that circuit was lost. With planes stuck on runways and ramps repair teams rushed to repair the links.

They're trying to sterilize the airspace in the entire northeast corridor just to make sure it doesn't cause issues for aircraft that are in the air. We're using old architecture, a 30, 40-year-old architecture. We have asked the Congress to do a whole new architecture of aviation. This is a live... Today's meltdown. Tom's the same day the FAA began rolling out a new AI tool called smart, giving controllers more information on weather, flight paths, and diversions, while insisting controllers, not AI, will make the final decisions. Could AI take over?

It cannot. Humans run this system. The smart system starting in Washington before going national. All right, Tom Costello joins us now live at Reagan National Airport. And Tom, we have a late-breaking update from the Transportation Secretary on this situation. He just tweeted the telecom lines have been restored. Service is improving at the airports, but it will be a while to work through all the delays. Check with your airline, Tom.

A bit of good news there, but it's going to be slow going. Tom, thank you. To the lawsuit now filed by three media outlets banned from the White House by President Trump. The president said he banned them for what he called, one-sided coverage. But tonight, CNN, MS now, and Politico slamming it as an assault on the first Amendment. Here's Kelly O'Donnell. Today, three news organizations filed suit asking a federal judge to reverse the president's expulsion of CNN, MS Now, and Politico from the White House, alleging that violates their constitutional rights. The filing says, this ban could not be a more

direct assault of the First Amendment, adding, he implemented the ban to coerce more favorable coverage. Tonight, after barring three major news outlets, the president sought out local news cameras, waiting not for him, but for Mayor Mom Donnie, and his plan news conference that was not supposed to include the president. I never get anything positive. It's always negative. And I think that these outlets have an obligation to be fair. Earlier today on social media, the president called out the federal judge and claimed, virtually every story about me is negative, wrong, and in many cases dangerous for our country. As a result of the ban, CNN was barred from serving as the previously scheduled TV network pool responsible for providing pictures and coverage broadcast

by all the major TV networks to viewers everywhere. One practical impact is seen here. There's no microphone because the pool cameras aren't there. Where conservative outlet Newsmax showed the president today at a been cutting for the new helipad without the TV pool's involvement. Obviously, the ramifications are right here. Can't hear what the president's saying. All right, let's pick it up there. Kelly joins us live from the White House.

We know these three media organizations have sued. When will the judge rule? Well, first, Tom, the Trump administration gets to formally respond to the lawsuit. And then on Wednesday, there is a scheduled hearing where the news organizations will make that request for a temporary order to block the ban. Tom? Kelly O at the White House. Kelly, thank you. As we just saw there, President Trump is in New York tonight, said to take the global stage at the U.N. where he'll hold a series of high-stakes meetings, including potentially with the president of Iran. Here's Monica Alba. Tonight in New York for a high-stakes speech at the U.N. Well, I can say from my standpoint, I love New York, and this represents New York.

The president first making a stop to see Democratic mayor, Zoran Mamdani, the third, sit down for the political opposites. We appreciate the president's commitment to the city. President with more key meetings this week, including possibly the president of Iran. They're not going to have a nuclear weapon. All as he's facing pressure over rising gas prices. And now three U.S. airlines to cut back on holiday flights due to fuel costs. The Trump administration trying to lower energy prices by getting more oil tankers through the Strait of Hormuz, past Iranian attacks. Tonight, sent Koms saying it's escorted tankers with one billion barrels of oil through the straight,

in two months. I think we all have to accept that so long as the Iranians are trying to terrorize international shipping, we of course are going to try to push back against that, but that is why gas prices are so high. And the war could expand, with Iran-backed Houthi rebels attacking an airport in Saudi Arabia. Kyr Simmons is there. People here in the capital have heard explosions, likely Houthi missiles being intercepted, a newly expanding front in this month's long war. All as the president intensifies his blockade on Iran, sentcom saying it's blocked 110 vessels from Iranian ports. Our foot is on the neck of the Iranian economy. All right, Monica joins us live from the UN and Monica.

We're learning more about what the president will say tomorrow. That's right, Tom. The president is expected to touch on Iran and Venezuela, and you'll have the first sit down with the interim leader of that country. Also tomorrow, Delci Rodriguez. Tom? A major meeting. Monica Alba with that new reporting for us. Monica, thank you. There are more protest plan tonight in Texas over a man who was shot and wounded in his car by an ICE officer in Austin. We have new video of those chaotic moments and a warning. Some of the video is disturbing.

Ryan Chandler is there. Why are you doing that to him? Tonight, new video shows the moments officers surround an Austin food delivery driver and ICE officer shot in the back. It's not clear why ICE initially pursued him and opened fire. You see law enforcement handcuffed 28-year-old Wilbur Rafael Garcest Perez as he bleeds from his back, cutting his shirt to reveal the bullet wound. Gunshots from the incident captured by a nearby driver's phone on Sunday. Oh my God.

Two bullet holes visible in the back window. The Department of Homeland Security says Garces Perez was hospitalized in stable condition, then taken into federal custody for removal, adding he's from Venezuela and in the U.S. illegally with a final order of deportation. He didn't know that he was being hit by ice. And when he realized what was going on, he was trying to pull over, but they rammed him again and then shot him. Today, his attorney tells us, Garsas Perez was delivering food when an unmarked car pursued him. What do you want the world to know about your client tonight? Wilbur is just like any of the rest of us. He's a young man. He's a door dash driver. He was

out on the road trying to make some money for his family. A senior administration official tells NBC news. He did not have a criminal history beyond his immigration violation. His lawyer says he was an asylum seeker who entered the country through a parole program. And today, Garses Perez called into his attorney's press conference from an ICE detention facility two hours south of Austin. He said doctors did not remove the bullet from his back because it's too close to his spine. We've reached out to DHS regarding his and his attorney's assertions. We've not yet heard back. Tom. Ryan, thank you. Now to the tragic death of Presley Gerber, son of supermodel Cindy Crawford and businessman Randy Gerber, who died Sunday at a rehab facility in Santa Monica.

Police say they're investigating his death as a suspected overdose. Here's Liz Croix. Tonight, we're learning new details about the death of model Presley Gerber, the son of Cindy Crawford. Authorities now investigating the possibility he overdosed at a rehab center on Sunday. Gerber was just 27, the son of Crawford and businessman Randy Gerber. His younger sister, the model and actress Kaya Gerber. Santa Monica police saying at this time there's no indication of foul play. Authorities say around 9.35 Sunday morning, they responded to a report of a possible overdose

and that upon arrival, officials located an adult male who was deceased. A source close to the investigation tells NBC News he had just checked into the facility the night before. Like his famous mother, Gerber began modeling as a teenager and was recently part of a major ad campaign for Viori, alongside his family. In recent years, he began opening up about his private struggles with mental health issues and substance abuse. I've struggled with mental health, depression, and a lot of things that come along with that. Even hosting a weekly series, he called Mental Health Mondays on social media. Today we are going to be talking about ketamine. Just last month, Presley's younger sister, Kaya, referencing his battle with addiction in an interview with Vogue, saying, my parents for most of our lives were very, very private and didn't share anything.

And now we have this absolute teacher, my brother, who says, I'm going to be very human for everyone. Tonight, the family asking for privacy during this very difficult and painful time. And Liz Kreutz joins us now. Liz, people are going to hear your report that he may have overdosed while at a rehab facility. Do we know more about what happened there? Well, Tom, we've reached out to the facility. We have not heard back. A law enforcement source says he was likely dead for some time before he was found Sunday morning. The exact cause and manner of his death is also still under.

investigation. Tom. Incredibly sad. Okay, Liz Kreutz for us. Now to that surprising settlement between Paramount and 12 states that had sued to stop the company from merging with Warner Brothers Discovery. Chloe Malas joins us now in studio and Chloe, this move now clearing the way for the merger to happen. Tom, this is a stunning about face from those 12 Democratic-led states, which include California, Colorado, New Mexico, and Connecticut, all of which said that this merger would be devastating and terrible for consumers. Now as part of this settlement, Paramount is saying that they are going to release over 150 movies over the next five years, investing millions of dollars into the film industry. They've also said that they are going to create a board to oversee CNN and CBS so that

those news outlets maintain journalistic independence and integrity. This coming after some critics were concerned that Paramount Skydance CEO David Ellison might have some sort of interference. in the coverage of the Trump administration, I also want to point out that it appears that Paramount has dropped their threats to leave the state of California and keep their studio lots in the state. All right, Chloe Malas, a lot of reporting there for us.

Chloe, thank you. When we return in 60 seconds, could weight loss drugs make you go blind? The new lawsuits filed and the patient now speaking out to us and the verdict for the man who shot three Palestinian students in Vermont weeks after Israel-Hamas war broke out.

Plus stunning video just in of tourists, rescued from a remote beach in Oregon what they wrote in the sand to get help. Stay with us. We're back now with an update on those popular weight loss drugs. Some patients reporting a scary side effect, vision loss. NBC Stephanie Goss spoke to one woman who had to quit her job after losing some eyesight

and is now suing one of the drug makers. Here's NBC Stephanie Gossk. Tonight, an alarming side effect possibly linked to GLP ones. The drugs, millions of Americans, are taking for weight loss and diabetes. A sudden and possibly irreversible eye condition called N-A-I-O-N that can lead to permanent blindness.

There are no known treatments. I woke up one morning and I was like, what is wrong with my eye? There was no warning sign at all. Diane Worth had to quit her job as a nurse practitioner and now she can no longer read. She was on a GLP 1 for weight loss. Now she has lost almost all of her vision in her right eye. fair to say this has upended your entire life, hasn't it, Diane? Oh, for sure. For sure has. It's been very challenging. Worth is one of hundreds of Americans who are suing GLP1 drug makers

Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly, saying they were not adequately warned of the potential danger of vision loss. And the label needs to be updated if the companies want to do the responsible thing. Novo Nordus, the maker of OZempik and Wagovi says it is vigorously fighting the lawsuits, adding it believes they are without merit. Eli Lilly may contains patient safety is its top priority, and it will continue to review data. While a study by the American Academy of Ophthalmologists did not find evidence of a consistent overall increase in NAION risk in the available data, adding that more research needs to be done, meanwhile oversees a different story. The European Medicines Agency concluded NAION is a very rare side

effect, and the EU has added it to the labels for OZempe and Wagovi. But the wildly popular drugs have proven to be effective in fighting diabetes and weight loss, and medical experts say people considering taking them should speak with their doctors. The overall health benefits of these drugs would likely far outweigh the very small increased risk of this very, very rare complication. Stephanie joins us now live in studio. Stephanie, this still sounds very, very rare, but what should people look out for if they're concerned? Well, the first thing is that it's onset suddenly, and that just makes it scarier, right?

and is described as a kind of stroke of the eye. Some people say they see something black over their eye. The woman who we spoke to said, imagine someone taking Vaseline and putting it on your glasses, that that's the kind of blurring that she sees. And remember, there's no known treatment for this yet. And in some cases, like hers, it's irreversible. All right, Stephanie Gossfer.

Stephanie, thank you for that story. We're back in a moment with the verdict for a man accused of shooting three Palestinian students, plus country club chaos. The moment a car barrels right through the pro shop, sending workers flying. That's next. We're back now with the verdict for the man accused of shooting three Palestinian college students in Vermont. Today a jury convicted Jason Eaton of attempted murder after he fired at three college students walking near his home.

Eaton faces up to life in prison for the 2023 attack, which left one of the men paralyzed and the other two wounded. he had pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity. Also tonight, new video of a cry for help from a remote beach, three tourists trapped by dangerous surf on Lost Boy Beach in Oregon, riding out SOS in the sand. You can see it right there. They used driftwood to make the letters. A water rescue team later used ropes to bring them through the rough tides back to safety.

And in Massachusetts, wild video capturing a car smashing through a country club pro shop, take another look. It barrels right through the wall, knocking over two weeks. workers and tipping over some golf clubs. The employees and the driver were injured but are expecting to be okay. The cause is still being investigated. When we come back flipping the script, meeting the young Cincinnati Reds fans, getting their moment in the spotlight, passing out autographs to their favorite players.

We'll explain that's next. Finally, there's good news tonight. The Cincinnati Reds brought a group of young fans together for an autograph session with a bit of a twist. How are you? Let's see that autograph. These Cincinnati Reds players have done plenty of autograph signings in their day. I'm number 35. But few quite like this.

How's it going? Can you please sign your card on me? I can, but you've got to give me yours first. The major leaguers meeting with kids from Cincinnati Children's Hospital. Hey, what's up, Brady? How are you? And instead of trading cards, they're trading roles. collecting the autographs instead of giving them. Thank you.

Thank you. Awesome, of course. Thank you. What's up, buddy? It's sound nice to meet you. Each kid signing their own custom-made official Tops card. How are you doing? Can I have a lot of your cards?

The event organized by Reds outfielder T.J. Friedel. As a kid, he spent months in the hospital, and now he's paying it forward. Yeah, you sign this one and this one. I get two of your cards? Yeah. collecting cards and memories to last a lifetime. He said, I love that. There's just some special cards.

All right, that's nightly news for this Monday. I'm Tom Yamas. We thank you so much for watching tonight and always. We're here for you. Good night.