ABC World News Tonight with David Muir Full Broadcast - April 5, 2026

David Muir, ABC's World News Tonight, America's most watched newscast. Now streaming same day with all the breaking news of the day on Disney Plus. Most watched, most trusted. Now on Disney Plus every night.

Tonight, the daring and dramatic rescue of a U.S. airman trapped behind enemy lines in the treacherous mountains of Iran for nearly two days. President Trump posting, we got him. trapped behind enemy lines in the treacherous mountains of Iran for nearly two days. President Trump posting, we got him. The Air Force colonel, a weapons systems officer, was injured, but President Trump says he is safe and sound.

Hundreds of soldiers from the elite special operations units executing the dangerous nighttime mission. The CIA launching a deception campaign, spreading word inside Iran that the U.S. had already found the missing airman and removing him out. The pilot of the F-15 fighter jet was rescued within hours of the crash on Friday, but President Trump says that rescue was not confirmed to protect the second operation. Also tonight the president is

doubling down on his threat to Iran, telling me in an interview that if a deal is not reached by Tuesday, quote, we're blowing up the whole country. He's not ruling out sending in ground troops, but an Iranian official dismissing the threat as reckless. Also tonight, hopefully the first American pontiff celebrating his first Easter mass tens of thousands gathering in Saint Peter's

Square. Hope Leo's message to a world at war and Easter celebrations in the Middle East. Another giant step for mankind the eve of a historic mission for Artemis to the lunar flyby the first time humans have been this close to the moon and more than 50 years. Plus tragedy in Louisiana more than a dozen people were injured after an alleged drunk driver plows into

a crowd celebrating the loud New Year at a festival. Let's Gilbert speaking out in an exclusive interview with George Stephanopoulos about the charges against her husband, actor and director Timothy Busfield. The Angel in the outfield stealing three home runs from the Seattle Mariners. The NCAA's Women's Championship Final. Can UCLA win their very first tournament title or is South Carolina now a dynasty?

shadow welcoming 2 new additions to their family.

From ABC News world headquarters in New York.

This is world news tonight.

Good evening and thanks so much for joining us on this Easter Sunday. I'm Rachel Scott, in for Lindsay Davis. And we do begin tonight with that dramatic mission to rescue a U.S. airman trapped in the treacherous mountains of Iran for nearly two days. The F-15 fighter jet was shot down by Iran. Both U.S. service members ejected safely. The pilot was rescued on Friday, but a weapons systems officer in the backseat of that aircraft remained missing.

Iran launched their own search, offering a $60,000 reward for anyone who found the American alive. President Trump sharing the remarkable news overnight that the service member, while injured, was safe and sound. This was a high stakes and a high risk operation. Two C-130 aircraft

got stuck in Iran, forcing American troops to intentionally destroy the planes. We have team coverage tonight, but we do begin with ABC's Britt Clennett leading us off from Jerusalem.

Tonight US officials confirming hundreds of soldiers from elite special operations units executed a daring nighttime mission deep inside Iran to rescue that missing officer after his fighter jet was shot down Thursday. President Trump posting the Air Force colonel is safe and sound after being hunted down by our enemies who were getting closer and closer by the hour. The US launching the extraordinary operation moments after two crew members on board their

F-15 Strike Eagle was shot down over western Iran. The Pentagon saturating the area with assets, warplanes, satellites, drones and helicopters. One airman rescued, but in the process Iran shooting down an A-10 warthog. That pilot safely ejected and was also rescued. Combat teams scouring the terrain for the missing weapons officer. C-130s seen with two Blackhawks, those helicopters coming under fire too. According to a senior US official, the CIA orchestrated a deception campaign,

spreading word inside Iran that US forces had already found him and were preparing to move him out of the country. The rescue mission extending into the second day, the president saying they were monitoring his location 24 hours a day, meticulously planning his rescue. Late yesterday, elite special operations forces going in, reaching the mountainous terrain using highly adaptable MH-6 Little Bird helicopters and MC-130Js.

Two aircraft involved in that mission getting stuck at a location, forcing the troops to deliberately destroy and disable the aircraft. Iranian state media releasing these images, appearing to show parts of those planes. These satellite images appear to show the wreckage near Isfahan. Retired commander John Hiltz was a Navy F-A-18 Super Hornet pilot who flew combat missions across the Middle East and was trained to oversee these types of missions.

This is an incredibly perilous situation. You've got to locate them, you've got to authenticate them, you've got to assess their mobility, assess their health status. Are they compromised? Are they, you know, is there any other threats around them? So you've got to take account for all these different variables.

Trump praising the mission, telling our Rachel Scott Scott it was amazing. I had an amazing evening watching the whole situation even telling axios reporters he was initially fearful that Iran was trying to lure the soldiers into a trap because he was thrown off by a short message from the pilots tonight around playing up the attacks on the U.S. aircraft and saying the operation was an American failure that rescue

coming is fighting in the Middle East rages on. The U.S. and Israel striking a nuclear power plant near the coast. Iran punching back, sending missiles towards all corners of Israel and dozens of other strikes on Gulf nations. Kuwait and Bahrain are now reporting attacks at their petrochemical and energy sites. And Rachel, back to that American colonel he evaded

capture for up to 48 hours deep inside the mountains of Iran president Trump saying he seriously injured while the condition of the other rescued American crew member is still unknown and tonight, ABC News also learning Israel helped

with intelligence in the rescue Rachel it was a daring rescue, thank you. President Trump issued a new threat to Iran on this Easter Sunday. In a phone interview this morning, the president told me that if Iran does not make a deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, then the U. S. Will blow up the whole country. And tonight, what the president said about targeting civilian infrastructure. Here's ABC's Selena Wang. Tonight, President Trump threatening to bomb Iran's

infrastructure in an Easter Sunday message, the president issuing a profanity late in social media post warning Iran will be living in hell if they do not reopen the Strait of Hormuz by Tuesday night writing Tuesday will be power plant day and bridge day all wrapped up in one. Trump has repeatedly issued 48 hour deadlines for Iran to open the critical waterway or face attacks on

its energy infrastructure only to delay his timeline. And for days the president sending conflicting messages arguing the U.S. can open the straight itself and take the oil while also claiming it's up to other countries to break Iran's chokehold.

They can do it easily. We will be helpful, but they should take the lead in protecting the oil that they so desperately depend on.

Today, the president telling ABC News, if Iran does not make a deal,

we're blowing up the whole country.

If there is no deal, we are going to hit each and every one of their electric generating plants very hard and probably simultaneously.

When asked if he's concerned about striking civilian infrastructure, Trump said, the civilians want me to do it, arguing the Iranian people are living in hell.

Experts warn destroying civilian infrastructure could be a war crime under international law.

If it's civilian infrastructure, which of course could affect things like water treatment plants, hospitals, then many would argue that that's not a valid military target and against international law. This might turn the people that we were trying to support against us. And tonight, President Trump still says this war can be wrapped up quickly, law. This might turn the people that we were trying to support against us.

And tonight, President Trump still says this war can be wrapped up quickly, even as he continues to make these new threats. He also has not ruled out using boots on the ground as the Iranian regime remains publicly defiant, warning that any attack on Iranian infrastructure will be responded to in kind. Rachel? Yeah, big question sign on if there will be a deal.

Selena, thank you. We turn now to Pope Leo celebrating his first Easter as pontiff, the Chicago native delivering a message of peace to a world that is at war. Tens of thousands gathered in St. Peter's Square

and tonight Easter celebrations also in the Middle East. Here's ABC's Marcus Moore.

On this Easter Sunday and at a time of tumult for so many, Pope Leo XIV sharing his message of hope. Before a crowd of 50,000 at St. Peter's Square and to the more than 1.4 billion Catholics around the world, the pontiff called for peace.

Let those who have the power to unleash wars choose peace. Not a peace imposed by force, but through dialogue.

Not with the desire to dominate others, but to encounter them.

This Easter marking Pope Leo's first Holy Week since he was chosen to leave the Catholic Church almost a year ago in May. His election following the sudden passing of Pope Francis on Easter Monday last year. On Good Friday, Pope Leo became the first pontiff in more than 30 years to carry the wooden cross to all 14 stations at Rome's Colosseum. The striking procession representing the path Jesus took before he was crucified. The daily ceremonies and rituals culminating in this Easter message, where without naming

them specifically, Poplio referenced the wars raging across the globe, conflicts that have claimed thousands of lives and livelihoods.

Let us abandon every desire for conflict, domination and power, and implore the Lord to grant His peace to a world ravaged by wars and marked by a hatred and indifference that makes us feel

powerless to the face of evil. And Rachel, Pope Leo is now set to begin a 10-day trip through parts of Africa where he's expected to visit four countries there but before that he has called for a special vigil next Saturday to pray for peace. Rachel.

Okay, Marcus, thank you. We turn now to another giant step for mankind, this one more than 50 years in the making. The Artemis II astronauts making their final lunar preps before their historic mission around the moon tomorrow. ABC's Andrew Dimbert has the details.

Tonight Artemis II just hours from the moon.

Houston, Integrity, good morning and happy Easter to everyone down on Earth.

Making final preparations for that historic lunar flyby. The crew starting their day with a wake-up call. CeeLo Green's working class heroes.

It's time to work.

Then NASA says the four astronauts spent part of the day testing their Orion crew survival suits, practicing how to put them on and take them off in microgravity.

Once this crew is in their suits and the suits are pressurized, they will need to get seated.

These suits built for the most dangerous moments, capable of keeping them alive for up to six days inside the capsule. So far, the mission a success, but not without its challenges. The wastewater tank that's attached to the toilet, we had problems with that due to suspected blockage, we think probably due to ice. When they swing around the moon, the astronauts will track more than a dozen lunar targets, capturing images of craters, lava flows and the far side of the moon, places never seen by the naked eye. Mission Control expecting a 40

minute communication blackout as Orion passes behind the moon. And tonight, pilot Victor Glover sharing an Easter message.

I think as we go into Easter Sunday thinking about, you know, all the cultures all around the world, this is an opportunity for us to remember where we are, who we are, and that we are the same thing and that we got to get through this together.

And Rachel, tomorrow the crew will hit a new milestone, officially surpassing Apollo 13 to mark the farthest humans have ever traveled from Earth. Rachel.

And what a powerful message from those astronauts. Andrew, thank you. We turn now to the horrific tragedy in Louisiana. A suspected drunk driver plowing his car into a crowd at a festival celebrating the Lao New Year. At least 15 people are injured, some seriously. That driver now facing multiple charges. We do want to warn you, some viewers may find these images disturbing.

Here's ABC's Reena Roy.

Tonight video shows the dramatic moments a 57-year-old man was arrested after police say he drove his car into a crowd in L

All I saw was everyone fl

to the side. At least 15 some critically when the afternoon during the loud in the city of Broussard. responders helping the in

thought that he was comin because the car was kind of nice. He inches closer and closer.

Revs engine again and just

plows through everybody.

Police identifying the suspect as Todd Landry arresting him and charging him with negligent injuring in the first degree. State police say Landry showed signs of impairment and that a breath sample indicated a blood alcohol

content above the legal limit. At least 13 people were rushed to the hospital, including two who had to be airlifted. This mother frantically searching

for her son. I was able to locate him and my friend safely and then once I found them, I started looking around and you just saw bodies everywhere and it was just, I don't know, it was like a twilight zone. Now the

sheriff's office says it does not appear this crash was intentional but add this is still an active investigation. Rachel. Reena thank you. Now to a historic performance from the UCLA women's basketball team taking down the South Carolina Gamecocks and a game for the ages winning their very first championship title. ABC's Christiane Cordero is in Arizona for all the action. Hey Christiane.

Rachel, for the first time in NCAA women's basketball history, the UCLA Bruins are national champions. The UCLA took the lead early in the first half and quite frankly never looked back, stretching their lead by more than 30 points at one point over the South Carolina Gamecocks. It was Dawn Staley's fourth title game in five years, but what the Bruins lacked in championship experience, they made up for in overall experience with seniors leading the way, including Gabriela Jaquez and Lauren Betts. Betts receiving a huge cheer from fans when she was subbed out late in the fourth,

her final game playing as a Bruin tonight all five starters scored double digits. Both teams showed up tonight with passionate fan bases in this arena, creating an unbelievable environment, much of which you can tell right now the UCLA Bruins Rachel now go back to Westwood with new hardware and a new chapter written Rachel and all eyes on

the men's game tomorrow. Christiane, thank you. And still ahead, a surprising scene in Pennsylvania, why a highway turned into a runway. And a welcome to the world moment, times two in California, the new additions to a feathered family.

Back now with the moment a major highway became a landing strip. This was a view from a car on Interstate 78 in Lehigh, Pennsylvania. A single-engine plane making an emergency landing. The FAA says the pilot reported engine trouble Saturday morning during a flight from New Jersey to Indiana. Both he and the passenger on board are OK, and the NTSB is investigating.

Next, a rescue from an Arizona mountain. Fire officials say they recovered a hiker who had been stung more than 100 times by bees. The man had been swarmed near the summit yesterday morning. He was airlifted to the hospital in critical condition. Phoenix area officials recently warned residents about increased bee activity in the area.

When we come back, highway robbery on the baseball diamond and Angel leaves his opponents shaking their heads. To the Index now, an exclusive interview with Melissa Gilbert. It's her very first sit-down interview discussing the criminal sexual contact

of a minor charges against her husband, Timothy Busfield. Gilbert tells our George Stephanopoulos this is the most traumatic experience of their lives, saying that her husband is the last person who would hurt a child.

And you're confident he'll be exonerated?

Oh, absolutely. I am 100% confident he will be exonerated.

What will justice look like in this case?

Exoneration and apology. Freedom from this cloud.

You can see Georgia's full interview on Good Morning America tomorrow. Switching to sports and what's being called the Joe show. L. A. Angels outfielder Joe Adele robbing three home runs from the Seattle Mariners. A leaping catch made Cal Raleigh victim number one. Number two happened virtually in the same spot against slugger Josh Naylor. Then Adele saving

the very best for last. Take a look at this. He falls into the stands to rob his third home run of the game. Two big breakthroughs at California's Big Bear Lake. The eggs belonging to bald eagles, Jackie and Shadow fully hatched today. The first eagle had emerged after pecking away at its shell for about 36 hours, the second debuting just a short time later. For now, the siblings are being called Chick One and Chick Two. When we come back, a special trip for a teen

completing a long, hard journey. Finally tonight, an Easter surprise and a trip of a lifetime for one teen who kept the faith. For Isabella Solis and her family, this Easter Sunday is unlike any other. Just a year ago, the 16-year-old from Albuquerque, New Mexico went to the ER with

back pain.

I got a CT done and they found a mass on my pelvis that mass

turning out to be a 14 pound cancerous tumor. It's a gut punch what followed was a grueling year of 6 surgeries and 8 rounds of chemo.

I lost my pretty quickly is is a rough journey.

Isabella and her family, especially turning to their Catholic faith praying for her recovery.

I prayed so much weather is day and night. In my head out loud laying down to sleep.

Her on contacted make a wish New Mexico hoping to lift Isabella spirits with the wish that could come true.

It's one of my dreams to just go see the Vatican see the

church and this week her wish was granted Isabella surrounded by family and friends.

We wanted to let you know that your wish to go to Rome is coming true.

But in the spirit of there was more. A former himself now, priests knew connection to Pope Leo. T

Leo and Pope Leo responde

meet Leo on May 22nd on t now cancer free and her f to that day.

I think I will be nervous, but I think I will be comfortable

because he's just like a person just like everyone else.

We have a feeling the pope is going to love you thanks for

watching. I'm Rachel Scott good night. David Muir, the most trusted anchor in America, the most watched anchor in America. Thank you for making ABC's World News Tonight with David Muir the number one newscast in America. Most trusted, most watched. Most trusted, most watched. David Muir.