NBC Nightly News with Tom Llamas - Thursday, October 1, 2026

Episode Date: October 2, 2026

New video of hero passengers from plane attack; Tornado outbreak across Kansas; Botched execution of death row inmate; 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, the new image is just coming in, showing the moments passengers stop that suspected terror attack in the skies. New chaotic scenes as the hero passengers stormed the cockpit, restraining the co-pilot who had just stabbed his fellow pilot. The attacker tied up after he allegedly tried to down the plane. Israel saying he had been radicalized. New video of the hero pilot carried off the plane, our new reporting tonight. destructive tornado outbreak, a likely twister, ripping this barn apart in Kansas, this semi, careening across a highway. Rescue team saving this driver, trapped in flash floods, plus the 60-plus car pile up shutting down I-95 in South Carolina.

Botched execution, a woman on death row for decades, surviving two doses of a lethal drug. Now she's in critical condition. So what went wrong? Text messages in the Cornell University rape investigation revealed what the accuser said to fraternity brothers in the days and weeks following the alleged assault and what they told school officials. The new blow to Lindsay Clancy's defense would a judge just decided. Deadly medical helicopter crashed two survivors rescued after a chopper suddenly went down off the California coast, one still missing. The parents of a toddler who brought a loaded gun to daycare now in court, The startling revelation that kids in the class pass the weapon around. NBC News exclusive Sean Diddy Combs thrown into solitary confinement

a day after we revealed this video showing him illegally using his phone behind bars. The wildlife attack caught on camera and elk charging at a car in Colorado, smashing the windows. And there's good news tonight. The high school dance team coach with an emotional announcement. You'll hear it. The new teammate about to join. their squad. Nightly News starts right now. This is NBC Nightly News with Tom Yamas. Good evening and we thank you for joining us on this Thursday night. We want to begin with

new video from that suspected terror attack on a passenger plane headed to Israel with graphic new images coming into our newsroom tonight with scenes like this. And tonight we're going to show you more of these chaotic moments just after the here. passengers took out the co-pilot attacker who had just stabbed the pilot and was trying to fly that plane full of Israeli passengers into the ground. We're also going to show you the attacker on the floor. You see him here with his hands tied behind his back and the bloody pilot who was attacked being taken away on a stretcher. And you'll hear him describing his injuries. We also have new reporting on the investigation with President Trump saying there is a connection between the attacker and Iran.

Matt Bradley starts us off from Tel Aviv. Tonight's stunning new video of the chaos as hero passengers rushed to stop the co-pilot from killing everyone on board their fly-du-by flight to Israel. Screaming in Hebrew, he tried to crash our plane. Calling for a doctor to treat the pilot who had just been stabbed by the co-pilot. Then someone asked if there's a doctor. Then someone asked if there's another pilot on board who can fly the jet. Amazingly, they're once.

Pilot Smitmachar, who incredibly opened the cockpit door while he was being stabbed, is seen bloody and speaking. He just, he hit me like... No, no, no, no, no. My hand, I can move, but I can't do this. I can't squeeze my hand. Later, he's on a stretcher after the plane landed. India's ambassador to the UAE tonight says he's recovering well.

Also on video, a new look at his attacker, the Omani co-pilot, who tried to fly the plane into the ground, passengers tying him up. He allegedly told them to kill him. President Trump tonight saying there's a connection between the co-pilot and Iran. Israel says it's investigating, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu saying the co-pilot had been radicalized. He underwent Islamist radical indoctrination. And there's new video of one of the hero passengers. He's yelling, we won. Israel's president said he's nominating the four Israelis who charged the cockpit for a heroism award,

including Yaniv Hayun, a plumber who subdued the attacker, then managed to level the plane before it crashed. After seeing it done on a TV show, we pulled the terrorist out. I made sure we subdued him and then pulled the control wheel up, he said today. For more than 170 other passengers, trauma from the incident still lingers. American Mika Bauman was returning from a vacation in Thailand and was sitting next to an 11-year-old girl in her family.

In that moment, in the drop, we just held hands, me and her and her father next to her. And we all screamed. Matt joins us now live from Israel. Matt, we're learning something else strange about that co-pilot who tried to bring down this plane. He should not have been allowed to be working on that fly- Dubai flight in the first place. Yeah, that's right, Tom. Israel bans pilots from countries that it doesn't have diplomatic relations with. And Oman, where this co-pilot is from, doesn't recognize Israel diplomatically, so he shouldn't have been on that flight. Tom?

Matt Bradley with that new reporting tonight. Matt, thank you. Tonight, the violent weather in the heartland, tornadoes touching down in Kansas, and families in multiple states facing flooding. Ryan Chandler is there in the storm zone. Tonight, the tornado outbreak across Kansas. Oh, my, structure just got hit. Watch as a likely twister rips apart that building. At least 12 tornado reports along a line through central Kansas. Part of a massive storm system extending from the Rio Grande to the Great Lakes, putting millions at risk.

In Texas, streets submerged. Drivers in Fort Worth trying to navigate through the floodwaters. Watch as this firefighter carries a woman from her car. More than half a foot of rain hammering the flood-prone hill country. Heavy rain throughout the hill country has the Lano River rushing. It's set to swell to 16 feet overnight, 10 feet higher than it is right now. But fortunately, for so many people here in Flash Flood Alley, none of the rivers here are expected to cause significant flooding.

North of here in Nebraska, watches this 18-wheeler careens out of control on rain-slicked roads. jackknifing on Interstate 80 in Omaha before crossing the traffic lanes once more. And in Lincoln, Nebraska, some people forced to trudge through the floodwaters and push their vehicles out of the water. While in South Carolina, authorities are investigating what caused this massive pile up on Interstate 95. They say it was foggy at the time of the crash. Dozens of vehicles involved at least two people hurt in serious condition. Ryan Chandler joins us tonight from Austin and Ryan we can see how the rain's coming down there behind you.

The flood threat there not over yet. Oh, that's right, Tom. We're under a flood watch until tomorrow evening with some areas at risk of six more inches of rain. Life-threatening flooding is still possible across the I-35 corridor without threat. Now moving east. Tom. Ryan Chandler for us, Ryan, thank you. We want to turn out of the botched execution of Krista Pike.

Tennessee giving the death row inmate two doses of a lethal drug, but somehow she survived. So how did this happen? Jesse Kirsch has the latest. Tonight, that failed Tennessee execution. We're learning that despite apparently receiving two doses of Pento Barbitol convicted murderer Krista Pike is still alive. Pike's legal team says she is hospitalized in critical condition, but they have not been able to see her. The pentobarbital did it actually enter Krista Pike's bloodstream as far as you know?

I think we're going to have to wait on some of the doctors before we know that for for sure. Pike's attorneys say the execution team spent an hour trying to establish an IV line for that lethal injection, noting Pikes had issues with blood draws over the years. Reporters describing what they witnessed last night. At 734, she said my arm feels like it's about to burst open. Then she smiles really big. The curtains close at first at 746. and she was clearly still alive.

The curtains open again. Three minutes later, she was snoring very loudly at that point. The curtains later closing again. Pike was sentenced to death for murdering her 19-year-old classmate Colleen Slemmer in 1995. Today, Slemer's stepfather writing in part, unfortunately, Colleen's soul cannot rest until this monster succumbs to the two doses of Pento barbitol that she was given. This is Tennessee's second unsuccessful execution this year alone.

This is a tragedy. Today, Governor Bill Lee calling for a third-party review of the state's lethal injection protocol. Last night was not just inefficient. It was cruel and it was torturous. It was also predictable. Jesse Kirsch, NBC News. Tonight there are new developments in the Cornell sexual assault investigation. Text messages revealing what the female students said to some of the men she would later accuse of assault.

Maggie Vespas on Cornell's campus tonight for us. Tonight, newly revealed text messages shedding light on how a Cornell student's understanding of her night at the Kai-5 fraternity house in 2024 appeared to evolve after the alleged assault. One day after the incident, the student, now calling herself Jane Doe, exchanged text messages with one of the men she accuses in her civil suit. Those texts obtained by the New York Times. He writes, I just wanted to apologize for how things went down. She writes, at the end of the day, none of the sexual stuff was illegal. Two days later, in texts obtained by NBC News, Jane Doe messaged with a second man, she accuses in her suit, writing, My reputation is destroyed and I'm utterly ashamed, adding all I do is sleep and cry all day.

A week later, after saying she'd been uninvited to a party at the house, Jane Doe writing to him, Y'all aren't my friends, y'all are covering your asses. Then two weeks after the incident, a shift. She texts the first man, let's be clear that 90% of what happened that night was not consensual. In a text to the second man, the following week, Jane Doe writes, I think I'm done talking to you. I know you lied. That was around the time Jane Doe would go to campus police. Documents from the school's disciplinary proceedings obtained by the New York Times also revealing more about the accounts of the fraternity brothers accused in the lawsuit. One of them saying when he entered the room, he was immensely concerned since I've never seen anything like this in my four years at the house. But he added he remembered Jane Doe saying something along the lines of, was normal in the medieval times. Another student saying she was conversational with people, which alleviated whatever concerns I had.

NBC News also obtaining court records that show Cornell investigators conducted more than 50 interviews with 32 witnesses. According to Jane Doe's testimony to a college hearing panel in 2025, she said, I felt like bait. I felt like lions around me. It was just a totally debilitating place to be in. Adding, after drinking heavily and using ketamine,

for the first time, she described feeling like her lights were on, but no one was home. Jane Doe's roommates quoted telling investigators she initially appeared in shock. Her lawyer telling NBC News it took her time to process the alleged assault. Tonight, Cornell students blasting the school's handling of the case. We deserve to know that our institution values are safety more than its reputation. Maggie joins us now live from Cornell once again. Maggie, Jane Doe's attorney spoke to your team today. What more can you tell us?

Yeah, Tom, that's right. He tells us that he has no confidence in the DA's ability to prosecute this case, actually telling us over the phone that his handling of it thus far, quote, feels like a cover-up. Now, the DA pushing back saying that he has no intention of getting distracted from getting to the truth. Tom. Maggie Vespa for us. Now to our new reporting from the Pentagon tonight, which is sending another aircraft carrier to the Middle East. Courtney Cuby joins us now live, and Courtney, this new ship will arrive, just as President Trump has warned he may restart strikes on Iran. Yeah, that's right, Tom. There could be a short time when three aircraft carrier strike groups overlap in the region,

giving President Trump more firepower right around the time he has warned he could restart major combat operations against Iran. Now, that third U.S. aircraft carrier strike group is headed to the Middle East right now, along with the Marine Amphibious Ready Group, nearly 10,000 total sailors and Marines. The USS Theodore Roosevelt left San Diego on Sunday and could be in the region before the end of the month, according to a U.S. official. But for now, it's just expected to swap out with the USS George Washington, which would then head back home to the Pacific. Tom? Courtney, thank you. This just in tonight, the judge in the Lindsay Clancy murder case has denied her request to find her not guilty.

Clancy's defense attorney had argued earlier this week that there wasn't enough evidence to even prove that Clancy had killed her three children. the judge today refuting that saying there was enough evidence. The district attorney, though, still has not decided whether or not to retry Clancy. And in Michigan, the parents of a toddler who was found with a loaded handgun in daycare in court today, as we learned that the firearm was actually passed around between other toddlers. Valerie Castro has a story. Two Michigan parents in court facing possible jail time. Police say their three-year-old son was found with a loaded gun in daycare.

will enter not guilty, please. The couple, 28-year-old Brandon Eli and 27-year-old Rabab al-Zayyad, each pleading not guilty to misdemeanor charges in connection with unsafe storage of a firearm. On Monday, Canton Police were called to this daycare in the Detroit area after a teacher saw a handgun being passed around between students, according to prosecutors. No one was injured. A loaded firearm in the hands of a toddler is an extremely serious matter. In a letter to parents obtained by NBC News, the children's world,

Early Learning Center writing, a secured firearm was found in a child's backpack in a holster. The firearm was removed from the backpack by the child and staff became aware of the situation and immediately intervened. The child's father is a member of the Detroit Police Department, telling the court he has nine firearms in the home. Detroit Police confirming in a statement he's now on administrative duty. Defendant shall surrender all firearms to law enforcement immediately. The daycare says they've implemented new backpack checks after dissoning after disenrolling the toddler and a sibling. Prosecutors say Eli faces up to a year in jail if convicted.

Al Zayat faces up to 93 days. Valerie Castro, NBC News. When we return in 60 seconds, the big change for Sean Diddy Combs after we showed exclusive video of him on an illegal cell phone inside of prison. The disgraced hip-hop mogul now moved into solitary confinement. And the medical helicopter crashed that left two dead. The search now for one person still missing. plus a massive elk caught on camera charging at a car,

shattering the windows. Next. We're back now with new details on Sean Combs' life behind bars. On Tuesday, we showed you exclusive video of the disgraced music mogul using a cell phone in prison. On Wednesday, he was moved to solitary confinement. Our Chloe Malas picks it up from there. Tonight, new fallout following our NBC News exclusive reporting.

Just a day after, we aired this video of Sean Combs using a cell phone in prison at Fort Dixon, New Jersey, which is prohibited by federal law. A source with knowledge of the matter tells us he was moved to solitary confinement into the special housing unit known as the shoe. That means removal from the general population in prison. So those meals like rice and beans, pizza and onion rings that multiple sources say Combs was paying other inmates to cook, likely no more. It's his second time in solitary confinement in just over two months, according to a source with knowledge. Combs was moved there after his involvement in a prison fight back in July. The Bureau of Prisons said contraband-like phones

remains a constant challenge, and they continue to tackle the problem. In a statement Wednesday, a Bureau of Prison spokesperson would neither confirm nor deny that Combs was moved, but reiterated that it does not comment on the conditions of confinement for any incarcerated individual. Combs is serving a 50-month sentence. Earlier this week, a spokesperson for him told NBC News that the media is characterizing ordinary prison life as news. Chloe Malas, NBC News, New York.

And we're back at a moment with the latest on that deadly helicopter crash up the coast of California. Stay with us. We're back now with the search for a patient still missing after a medical helicopter crashed near Catalina Island, roughly 20 miles off L.A. The chopper going down just after takeoff on Wednesday night.

Two people were killed and two others were rescued. The cause of this crash is still under investigation. Also making headlines tonight rapper Rick Ross arrested today. Authorities say he beat his girlfriend at his home in Miami, charging him with felony battery by strangulation and misdemeanor battery in connection with a domestic violent incident. Ross turned himself in and pleaded not guilty to those charges. His attorney did not immediately return our request for. comment. And take a look at this video of a bull elk ramming into a car in Colorado. You see

the elk running towards at antlers first slamming into it at full force smashing a window as the car drives away. The elk, nicknamed Crash or Smash by people nearby, is known for charging at vehicles in the park. It allegedly ignored a Dodge Ram. All right, when we come back, the announcement of a new team member that had this squad breaking to cheers. Stay with us. Finally, there's good news tonight. A high school dance coach near Minneapolis sharing a heartfelt moment with the team that means so much to her.

This is an announcement. High school dance coach Kristen B. Wan has been eager to make. I couldn't wait to share something really special with you guys. It's getting hard to not be able to share this news, but we're going to have a new little member. Kristen sharing the happy news with the team she's coached for 15 years. I'm just so excited to share. share this with you guys and have this moment with you. I love you.

Her time outside of dance hasn't always been easy. She and her husband Tyler have faced infertility and pregnancy loss while trying to start their family. It's just taking so long to get here. It's been something that feels like a roller coaster of emotion. Through it all, the team has been there for her. So happy for you. Even when they didn't know the full scope of their coach's struggles. I was overwhelmed with just like complete joy. I was so touched by them. They're reflecting back all the love that she's poured into them. I just couldn't believe their reaction.

It was so fun and so genuine and they were so happy and the fact they got emotional. I was so emotional. And she had one last surprise to share. You want to know what it? The new chapter is starting. It just makes me so happy to think about it and to share that together. I love you.

We are so happy for Kristen and Tyler. We can't wait to see that baby boy. All right. A programming noted by a great NL East rivalry tonight, a win or go home game three Phillies versus Braves tonight in the MLB Wild Card Series. It begins at 8 p.m. Eastern right here on NBC and Peacock. All right, that's NBC Nightly News for this Thursday. I'm Tom Yamas. We thank you so much for watching. Tonight and always, we're here for you. Good night.