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ABC World News Tonight with David Muir Full Broadcast - Sept. 19, 2025
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00:00Tonight, several breaking stories as we come on the air.
00:03The chaos in the air, a major radar and communications outage causing chaos at two major airports.
00:09Air traffic controllers unable to communicate with each other.
00:12We've lost all radar at phone communications.
00:15Pilots forced to relay messages through a plane that did have contact and you'll hear it.
00:19More than 1,000 flights canceled or delayed.
00:22Tonight, the chilling images, the urgent search for a two-year-old boy swept away while in a car with his father amid horrific storms.
00:30Tonight, major news when it comes to getting the COVID vaccine this fall, the vote just today,
00:35and the major change tonight suggesting people should decide for themselves.
00:39The government will not be making recommendations from the CDC and there is reaction already coming in tonight.
00:45Late today in the Oval Office, President Trump was asked about his FCC chairman, Brendan Carr,
00:50who put pressure on some ABC stations to preempt Jimmy Kimmel.
00:54Republican Ted Cruz comparing that pressure to that of a mafia boss.
00:58What the president is now saying about this tonight.
01:01Also developing at this hour, police late today say a gunman opening fire on KXTV, an ABC affiliate in Sacramento, California.
01:10Authorities now searching for a suspect tonight.
01:12This evening, there's news on the man who became unresponsive while riding a roller coaster at Universal's Epic Universe in Orlando.
01:19Tonight, the Grammy-winning songwriter killed in a plane crash.
01:22The alarming close call, a driver nearly hitting a young boy, crossing the street, trying to get on the school bus.
01:29The bus's red lights flashing.
01:31And the remarkable lesson tonight, the father and his sons, the AAA mechanic who taught everyone who is our person of the week.
01:38From ABC News World Headquarters in New York, this is World News Tonight with David Muir.
01:49Good evening, and it's great to have you with us here on a Friday night.
01:51We do begin tonight with the chaos in the air for a time.
01:54The alarming moments for pilots flying passenger planes when suddenly air traffic controllers were unable to communicate with each other.
02:01A major radar and communications outage causing chaos at two of the nation's busiest airports.
02:06Air traffic controllers at Dallas Love Field and Dallas-Fort Worth International unable to communicate with each other.
02:12Both airports forced to order ground stops.
02:14More than 1,000 flights canceled or delayed, not to mention the flights trying to land during all this.
02:20Pilots forced to relay messages with controllers because those controllers were unable to talk with each other.
02:26Whit Johnson leading us off tonight.
02:27Tonight, chaos at two of the nation's busiest airports after a major radar and communications outage.
02:34More than 1,000 flights canceled or delayed.
02:37We've lost all radar and phone communications.
02:39Air traffic controllers at Dallas Love Field and Dallas-Fort Worth International losing the ability to communicate with each other, causing ground stops.
02:48I'm not departing anybody until we can get a system set up.
02:51We have no comms with the approach right now.
02:53Listen, as a Southwest pilot in the air and still able to reach the tower, passed along a message between air traffic controllers who could not communicate.
03:01An approach wanted to pass on to you to stop all departures.
03:05They can't get a hold of you.
03:06They're having some comm issues, I guess.
03:08Yeah, I think the entire metro stations went down, but thank you.
03:11We got a hold of somebody.
03:12Tonight, the FAA saying it was not their equipment that caused the outage, instead blaming a local telephone company equipment issue.
03:20They're doing construction here at the airport.
03:22This happened a couple days ago where somebody cut a line and we lost everything.
03:25And, David, the issues are expected to last through the evening.
03:28The FAA says it's investigating and working with that local telephone company to determine the cause.
03:34David.
03:35Whit Johnson on the breaking news tonight.
03:36Whit, thank you.
03:37We move to these chilling images tonight.
03:39The urgent search at this hour for a two-year-old boy swept away while in the car with his father amid horrific storms from California to New Mexico.
03:47Melissa Adan on the scene.
03:49This was the moment flood water swept away a two-year-old and his father after rains inundated Southern California.
03:57Authorities in Barstow in a desperate search for two-year-old Xavier Padilla Aguilera.
04:02The toddler was in this white sedan with his father, Brandon.
04:06His father was rescued.
04:08Late today, officials announcing they found the boy's body.
04:11Up to two inches an hour falling in spots in Oakland, Denise Romo could only watch from her home as a mudslide surged past her.
04:20Oh, my God.
04:21I opened my kitchen window, and when I opened my kitchen window, I just see the first wave of mud.
04:27And it already had trees and mailboxes, a bunch of debris.
04:33North of there in Forest Falls, mud almost as high as the front loaders, furiously scooping it up.
04:39Some residents climbing over boulders and logs to get home.
04:43Entire neighborhoods buried in mud.
04:45KABC's Scott Reif over the scene at daybreak.
04:48Wall of mud came flowing down, and you can see as many as eight homes were damaged.
04:53Some may have been destroyed.
04:54They may not be repairable.
04:55Homeowner Eileen Hay telling me it's happened before.
04:59It was pretty scary because I know we've had some bad floods and people have died.
05:03The monsoon rains supercharged by remnants of Tropical Storm Mario.
05:07And it wasn't just Southern California.
05:10Floodwaters tearing through the town of Rio de Janeiro, New Mexico.
05:14Recent wildfires have stripped the landscape of vegetation, leaving nothing to stop the torrents of water.
05:20And, David, flood watches remain in effect for areas with burn scars like Rio de Janeiro, New Mexico,
05:26and parts of Central California through tonight.
05:29David.
05:30Melissa, thank you.
05:31Next tonight here, major news when it comes to getting the COVID vaccine this fall.
05:34The vote just today.
05:36And there's been a major change tonight.
05:37The panel now suggesting the CDC will no longer make a recommendation for Americans when it comes to the COVID shot, whether to get it.
05:44And, of course, it comes amid confusion with a series of changes now when it comes to vaccine recommendations.
05:49Steve Osansami at the CDC in Atlanta again tonight.
05:52For the first time since the coronavirus brought this country to a standstill and killed more than a million people,
05:59U.S. health officials tonight are encouraging all Americans to decide for themselves whether they need a COVID shot or not.
06:06The old recommendations are no longer.
06:08We have a vote, 12 yes, so it is passed.
06:13The decision came late today in Atlanta from the CDC advisory panel while protesters lined the street outside.
06:19What we're seeing here is when you convert from gold standard science to conspiracy-based decision-making,
06:26that's bad for the people of America.
06:28The new panel was handpicked by current Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy
06:32and has been accused of choosing vaccine skepticism over science.
06:36In a move that will bring some relief to many of their critics,
06:39they also voted down a recommendation that would have started requiring prescriptions for COVID vaccines.
06:44Dr. Jason Goldman didn't get a vote, was in the room, and wasn't pleased.
06:49There's a big difference between saying we recommend versus get it if you want.
06:55So these vaccines are safe and effective, and they should be recommended strongly,
07:00especially for those most vulnerable patients.
07:03The new changes to COVID and childhood vaccine guidelines are coming just as Americans are starting to get vaccinated before the winter.
07:10This mother of two school-aged children in Miami says it's hard to trust what's coming out of the CDC when there's so much noise everywhere else.
07:18I'm as confused as ever.
07:20I don't know.
07:21I don't know what to believe.
07:22Now that there's no longer a formal recommendation for who should be getting the COVID vaccine,
07:28there are concerns about the vaccine's availability.
07:30The federal government tonight is saying that their programs will still pay for them
07:35and that private insurers will cover these vaccines for at least another year.
07:40David.
07:41And we'll, of course, stay on this to try to clarify it all for our viewers.
07:43Steve Osinsami.
07:44Steve, thank you.
07:45Now to the news developing at this hour.
07:47Police late today say a gunman opening fire on KXTV, an ABC affiliate in Sacramento, California.
07:53Authorities at this hour now searching for a suspect.
07:56Here's our chief national correspondent, Matt Gutman.
07:58Tonight, shots fired at KXTV, ABC 10, the ABC affiliate in Sacramento, California.
08:05This video taken outside the station shows what appeared to be three bullet holes in a window.
08:10Police racing to the scene at about 1.30 local this afternoon.
08:13Radio traffic warning law enforcement to be on alert.
08:16Central divisions and outside agencies broadcast for officer safety on an armed vehicle.
08:21Fired three times into a building at Broadway and Fifth Street 25 ago.
08:25Police say a vehicle pulled up by the station building.
08:28An occupant opened fire, striking the lobby window.
08:31The vehicle then took off.
08:33Reports say at least one person was in the lobby.
08:36Station staff were in the building at the time.
08:38Should never be accepted that somebody's going to drive by any type of business,
08:43let alone a media partner, and shoot at the building.
08:46Police say they're working to obtain a vehicle description and determine a motive,
08:50saying fortunately that nobody was hurt.
08:52To those that may have been responsible for this, and I hope you see this,
08:57we're not going to stop looking for you.
08:58This is unacceptable behavior.
09:00It's not going to be tolerated in Sacramento.
09:02And David, a short time ago, the parent company of that Sacramento station,
09:06Tegna, sending us a statement saying,
09:08we are fully cooperating with law enforcement and have taken additional measures
09:12to ensure the continued safety of our employees.
09:15David.
09:15Matt Guppin tonight.
09:16Matt, thank you.
09:17Now to the scene late today in the Oval Office,
09:19President Trump was asked about his FCC chairman, Brendan Carr,
09:22who put pressure on some ABC stations to preempt Jimmy Kimmel.
09:26Republican Ted Cruz now comparing Carr's pressure on stations to that of a mafia boss.
09:31John Carl asking the president about that late today.
09:34Tonight, the Trump administration is under fire from Democrats and some Republicans, too,
09:39over their efforts to clamp down on free speech.
09:42One top Republican senator comparing the federal communications chairman,
09:46Brendan Carr, to a mafia boss.
09:49Carr sparked a backlash after pressuring ABC stations to preempt Jimmy Kimmel Live
09:53after comments Kimmel made about the alleged killer of Charlie Kirk.
09:58We can do this the easy way or the hard way.
10:00These companies can find ways to change conduct, to take action, frankly, on Kimmel,
10:07or, you know, there's going to be additional work for the FCC ahead.
10:10Disney ABC then announced Kimmel's show was suspended indefinitely.
10:15Tonight, Republican Senator Ted Cruz comparing the FCC chairman's threat to a scene out of Goodfellas.
10:21He says, we can do this the easy way or we can do this the hard way.
10:26Yeah.
10:26And I got to say, that's right out of Goodfellas.
10:29That's right out of a mafioso coming into a bar going, nice bar you have here.
10:34It'd be a shame if something happened to it.
10:36Cruz called what the FCC chairman did dangerous.
10:39I think it is unbelievably dangerous for government to put itself in the position of saying,
10:46we're going to decide what speech we like and what we don't,
10:49and we're going to threaten to take you off air if we don't like what you're saying.
10:53Tonight, I asked the president about that.
10:55Ted Cruz compared Brendan Carr to a mob boss, the way he's threatening television stations,
11:02and saying it's absolutely dangerous for the government to determine which speech is okay and which is not.
11:07What's your reaction to Ted Cruz?
11:10I think Brendan Carr is an incredible American patriot with courage.
11:14The president suggested that FCC chairman Carr could go further yesterday suggesting that Carr could potentially take away the broadcast licenses
11:24from television stations who President Trump says repeatedly criticize him.
11:30David?
11:30John Carl tonight.
11:31John, thank you.
11:32There's news tonight about the deadly crash of an Army Black Hawk helicopter in Washington state.
11:36Military officials now say four soldiers on board the chopper were killed when it went down near Joint Base Louis-McCord.
11:42The helicopter was on a routine training mission.
11:44The soldiers part of an elite team performing nighttime missions.
11:47The cause of the crash is under investigation.
11:50Overseas tonight, tensions escalating.
11:52Among NATO's eastern allies bordering Russia,
11:54three Russian fighter jets are now accused of violating Estonia's airspace,
11:58flying for about 12 minutes over NATO territory.
12:01NATO scrambling jets to intercept more than 20 Russian drones flew into Polish airspace.
12:06Earlier this month, several were shot down.
12:09NATO tonight accusing Russia of reckless behavior.
12:12Tonight, sources telling ABC News President Trump is expected to oust the top federal prosecutor for the Eastern District of Virginia.
12:18The president reportedly upset that that prosecutor could not find evidence
12:22to bring criminal charges against one of the president's biggest adversaries, New York's attorney general.
12:27And late today, that prosecutor now says he's resigning.
12:30Here's Aaron Katursky.
12:32Tonight, in an extraordinary move, sources tell ABC News President Trump is ousting a top federal prosecutor
12:39because he was unable to find enough evidence to charge one of Trump's political opponents with a crime.
12:44Eric Siebert, Trump's hand-picked U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia,
12:48spent five months investigating New York Attorney General Letitia James,
12:52who brought a half-billion-dollar civil fraud case against Trump and his family.
12:57It looks to me like she's very guilty of something.
12:59Federal prosecutors dug into properties James owns in Virginia and interviewed 15 people
13:04looking for evidence she committed mortgage fraud, but they came up empty.
13:09Trump said today he wanted Siebert out because his nomination was supported by Democrats,
13:14but sources say the administration is looking to replace him with someone who will more aggressively go after James.
13:20Our John Carl pressing the president.
13:22So you want him fired? You want him out?
13:24Yeah, I want him out, yeah.
13:25Tonight, an attorney for James calling it a brazen attack on the rule of law,
13:29saying firing people until he finds someone who will bend the law to carry out his revenge
13:34has been the president's pattern, and it is illegal.
13:38And we've just learned, David, that Siebert informed employees he resigned before Trump could fire him,
13:44upending one of the premier prosecutor's offices in the country that handles terrorism
13:49and espionage cases as the president pursues political rivals.
13:53David.
13:54Aaron Katursky tonight. Aaron, thank you.
13:56This evening, a federal judge in Florida dealing a scathing blow to President Trump,
14:00tossing out his $15 billion lawsuit against The New York Times.
14:03The judge calling the 85-page complaint decidedly improper, repetitive, and filled with self-praise.
14:09President Trump accusing the Times of disparaging his reputation.
14:11The judge giving his lawyers 28 days to refile their complaint in a, quote,
14:15professional and dignified manner, in his words.
14:19When we come back here tonight, there are new details coming in about the man who became unresponsive
14:23on a roller coaster in Orlando, what the medical examiner is now revealing tonight
14:27about that person on the ride.
14:29Also, we have learned tonight a Grammy-winning songwriter has been killed in a plane crash.
14:33You'll know so many of his songs.
14:35What we've learned about this in a moment.
14:37Tonight, there are new details emerging about the man who became unresponsive
14:41while riding a roller coaster at Universal Epic Universe in Orlando.
14:45The medical examiner ruling Kevin Zavala suffered multiple blunt impact injuries
14:49on the Stardust racer's ride.
14:51One witness saying it appeared something was wrong with the ride.
14:55There was a big piece of metal from the seat that was detached.
14:59There was families in there yelling, screaming, crying.
15:03Zavala's girlfriend telling the sheriff's office that Zavala had a pre-existing spinal injury.
15:08Universal released a statement saying they are cooperating with the investigation into Zavala's death.
15:13Tonight, a very close call for a boy getting on the school bus when a car almost hit him in Massachusetts.
15:18You can see the boy crossing the street trying to get to the bus when a car races by there.
15:23Authorities say coming dangerously close to the boy.
15:25The stop sign on the bus was fully extended.
15:27Police in Hadley, Massachusetts trying to track down that driver and reminding everyone
15:31to follow the signs on those buses.
15:34Tonight, the discovery of human remains possibly ending the hunt for a man accused of killing his own three young daughters.
15:39Investigators say they have found the remains believed to be of Travis Decker in the mountains of Washington State.
15:44Decker is accused of killing five-year-old Olivia, eight-year-old Evelyn, nine-year-old Peyton.
15:48The sisters were found suffocated after a visit with Decker back in June.
15:52When we come back on the broadcast tonight, the Grammy-winning songwriter we have learned has been killed in a plane crash.
15:57He worked with so many famous singers, you'll know the songs.
16:00And then a spectacular display tonight, the humpback whales making a splash and surprising one group of kayakers.
16:08To the index, the music world mourning the death of Grammy-winning songwriter Brett James tonight.
16:12James penned hundreds of country music hits, including Carrie Underwood's Jesus Take the Wheel.
16:17He also wrote for Martina McBride, Jason Aldean.
16:19He wrote Kenny Chesney's Out Last Night.
16:22Brett James died in a plane crash with two others in Franklin, North Carolina on Thursday.
16:26Brett James was just 57 years old.
16:29The singer known as David cancelling U.S. tour dates amid the intensifying investigation into the death of a 15-year-old girl.
16:35The singer's team scrapping remaining shows that were slated for California.
16:38Several shows in Europe also appear to be canceled.
16:40This all coming just days after the body of Celeste Rivas was found in a car that police say was registered to that singer.
16:47Tonight, new calls for airlines to get more passengers to leave behind carry-on items during emergencies.
16:52The FAA issuing a safety alert now, urging air carriers to update evacuation protocols and messaging.
16:59The agency saying carry-on bags could put lives at risk and damage exit slides.
17:03The new alert coming after recent emergency evacuations raised safety concerns because passengers were grabbing their things.
17:10The spectacular display tonight.
17:12Humpback whales putting on a stunning show for kayakers in Costa Rica.
17:15The kayakers out for an excursion when a humpback whale and its calf rise out of the water and splash back down right there.
17:22The whales breaching several times.
17:24That's incredible.
17:25Just a few feet away, the kayakers catching the whale's spectacle on their phones.
17:30And, of course, that's, I think, leaving them in awe.
17:32And us, too.
17:33When we come back here tonight, the remarkable lesson.
17:36The father and his sons, their car breaks down.
17:39But what happens when the mechanic arrives?
17:41The boys couldn't believe it.
17:42Who is our Person of the Week?
17:43Finally tonight here, the father out for a ride with his boys when the car breaks down.
17:49It doesn't sound remarkable, but when the mechanic arrives, it turns into a lesson for all.
17:55Who is our Person of the Week?
17:57Tonight, so many of us have been there before your car breaks down.
18:00But what happens next to this family is truly remarkable.
18:03In Oakland, Florida, just outside Orlando, dad Casey Kaz was driving with his sons when the car battery died.
18:10Dad called AAA, and mechanic Mike Law immediately came to the rescue.
18:15Those boys, four-year-old Coden, three-year-old Kylo, were curious about how the technician was going to fix their car.
18:21So that mechanic put them to work.
18:24Got him in there?
18:25Putting on the gloves.
18:26There you go, boy.
18:27Teaching them how to change a battery.
18:28Got it.
18:28Look at there.
18:30And dad documenting the whole thing.
18:32Mike from AAA handing them the ratchet.
18:34Don't do this one, okay?
18:35Can't drop it.
18:36Can I get a hand?
18:38Thank you, man.
18:40Installing the new battery.
18:41The boys watching as their car now works again.
18:45Fist bumps and high fives.
18:47Then dad sharing the moment, a valuable lesson online, where it's now gone viral tonight.
18:53And Mike, the AAA mechanic, commenting on the post, writing,
18:56I was just as excited as the boys were to help, knowing it's something they'll carry with them just as I will.
19:02Thank you for a memory that I will always treasure.
19:05And right here tonight.
19:06Hi, David.
19:07That dad and his sons, grateful for that lesson.
19:11And grateful their car is working again.
19:13Shout out to Mike because he is the most genuine person.
19:16So good with the kids.
19:17And I think people are thirsty to see those who are genuine and caring and take time to be patient and kind to someone else.
19:23You are absolutely right.
19:25And so we choose that mechanic, Mike, and those young mechanics, too.
19:28Code and Kylo.
19:29They won't soon forget it.
19:30I'm David Muir.
19:31I'll see you right back here on Monday.
19:32Good night.
19:35David Muir, the most watched newscast in America.
19:40And now, ABC's World News Tonight has won the Emmy for Best Live News Program for the third year in a row.
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