ABC World News Tonight with David Muir Full Broadcast - Aug. 29, 2025

Tonight, a passenger jet rocked by turbulence. The plane diverted as millions travel for the Labor Day weekend. The United Express flight from Aspen to Houston flying into turbulence. Passengers tossed around the cabin,

oxygen masks dropping from overhead. The plane descending more than 4,000 feet in less than a minute. The pilot reporting injured passengers and requesting a stretcher. It comes at the height of what is expected to be record travel

over the holiday weekend. Also tonight, tracking thunderstorms and rain from texas to the Dakotas temperatures up to 15 degrees below average for much of the country. Lee Goldberg with the Labor Day forecast new reporting on the deadly school shooting in Minneapolis as Children scrambled to safety. What the shooter's father allegedly told police about the suspect's most recent relationship and why authorities say security procedures in place during mass likely saved lives tonight amid

the turmoil at the CDC, major pharmacies limiting access to the covid vaccine in some states as cases rise and millions look for guidance from the nation's top health officials. The news breaking just moments ago, an appeals court ruling on President Trump's sweeping tariffs, what the court decided and how it could affect economies around the world. Tonight, President Trump signaling he's expanding his immigration crackdown in Chicago. Law enforcement officials telling ABC

News the administration is planning to surge immigration enforcement operations as early as next week. How city leaders are reacting tonight with the college football season getting underway. A University of Miami football player now facing charges in the deaths of three people killed in a high-speed crash. The Powerball jackpot now worth $1 billion. The Labor Day weekend drawing now the largest jackpot of the year. And Robin Roberts returns to the Gulf Coast 20 years after Hurricane Katrina, the children of the storm surviving the devastation, the moment their childhoods changed forever,

and how they're still learning to cope with Katrina's lasting emotional toll.

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From ABC News World Headquarters in New York, this is World News Tonight with David Muir.

Good evening, and thank you for joining us on a busy Friday night. I'm Mary Bruce in for David. And we begin tonight with the chaos on board a regional passenger jet rocked by turbulence. Several people injured during what's expected

to be the busiest Labor Day holiday for travel in 15 years. A United Express flight from Aspen to Houston diverted to Austin after the pilots declared an emergency reporting several people needed medical care video showing oxygen masks dangling from the ceiling. The plane dropping more than 4,000 feet in less than a minute. The aisle littered with

personal items and debris a menu somehow stuck to the ceiling. Tonight, the airline says the plane landed safely and everyone is OK, but a difficult start to the ceiling. Tonight, the airline says the plane landed safely and everyone is OK, but a difficult start to the holiday travel for those passengers and crew at one of the busiest times of this long weekend. ABC's Morgan Norwood leading us off. Tonight, a midair scare aboard a regional jet at the height of

the Labor Day weekend travel rush. We will need a stretcher and I know that there is bleeding as well. A United Express flight rocked by turbulence on Thursday as it traveled from Aspen, Colorado to Houston, Texas. Flight radar 24 data showing the turbulence that caused the aircraft to drop more than 4000 ft in less than a minute. Passenger Gretchen Gilliam says the turbulence came out of nowhere. The man in front of me flew up in hit the ceiling

multiple people injured.

There was people saying prayers very loudly there was some people hollering out what's wrong what is going on.

Images from inside the cabin showing oxygen mass deployed a menu stuck to the ceiling the floor littered with passengers belongings the aircraft with 43 passengers and crew on board, forced to divert, making an emergency landing in Austin, Texas. Two adult passengers later transported to the hospital, all injuries said to be non-life threatening.

It comes a day after air traffic control issues halted many incoming flights at Newark Liberty International Airport for nearly two hours. The FAA reducing arriving flights by nearly 20%. But tonight, operations were turning to normal. And Mary SkyWest, which operated that turbulent flight, says that plane landed safely. Medical crews immediately rushing in on the ground there. They also say United, its partner,

is working to assist customers. Mary?

A frightening start to the holiday for those travelers Morgan, thank you. Now to the weather this holiday weekend pockets of heavy rain are set to cause some travel trouble. So let's get right to chief meteorologist Lee Goldberg of our New York station wabc and leave much of the country with cooler than normal temperatures.

Absolutely Mary, but a couple of trouble spots to begin the holiday weekend. This'll have more on that in a moment. But first, a quick update on the weather. We're going to start with weather. We're going to start with thunderstorms. We're going to start with

thunderstorms. We're going to start with thunderstorms. We're going to start with

thunderstorms. We're going to start with thunderstorms. We're going to start with thunderstorms. to start the weekend in the northeast and then a modest warm up into the upper 70s by the end of the weekend. It's really rinse and repeat through the weekend. There's a stalled front over the Gulf Coast and the plains. That'll be the focus for some showers

and a few thunderstorms while it's dry in the northeast. The west starts warm and dry.

Then we get hot, a bout of extreme heat and fire danger into next week. Mary? tracking it all. Lee, thank you. Now to the chilling new details from the deadly school shooting in Minneapolis. Police are now in contact with the suspect's parents. What the shooter's father allegedly told them about the suspect's recent relationship families mourning the loss of eight year old Fletcher Merkel and 10 year old Harper Moisky. But the police chief says the church's security procedures during mass likely saved others lives.. Here's ABC's Alex Perez in Minneapolis.

Tonight, a community trying to heal from overwhelming heartache after Wednesday's heartless attack that killed 10-year-old Harper Moisky and eight-year-old Fletcher Merkel and injured more than a dozen other children.

At the hospital, officials say five pediatric patients remain hospitalized, four listed in satisfactory condition, one still in critical. One bright spot today, another patient was released. 13-year-old Andre Gunter still in the hospital. He was shot in the stomach.

His aunt writing, he has showed strength and faith beyond his years, and that before he was rushed into surgery, Andre looked at the surgeon and asked one simple, powerful request. Can you say a prayer with me? Outside the hospital overnight, supporters turning out, lighting candles.

At one point, looking to the hospital's windows and offering a comforting wave to patients inside. And tonight, new details on how the chaos unfolded inside Annunciation Catholic School Church Wednesday. The first 911 call coming in at 827 a.m. Officers on scene by 831, just four minutes later. Police Chief Brian O'Hara telling me the church's policy of locking the doors before mass saved

lives.

Thankfully to the processes that the church had in place, all of the things that those kids, the school staff did, clearly this could have been so much worse.

A search warrant obtained by ABC News reveals the killer's father told police his child recently broke up with their significant other and was living with a friend at the time of the attack. And today, police confirmed they have been in contact with the killer's mother, but it's not clear if she's cooperating. There has been conversation. Uh, and I

am not at liberty to go any further than that.

And Mary officials here at annunciation say they will decide this weekend when classes will resume for students here. But public schools begin next week and the governor says he will deploy law enforcement to schools and places of worship. Mary.

A horrific start to the school year Alex president Minneapolis again tonight, Alex, thank you. Next year tonight growing confusion over the covid vaccine cvs the nation's largest pharmacy chain is now limiting access to the vaccine in some states even as covid cases rise it comes amid the turmoil at the CDC and with millions

looking for guidance from the nation's top health officials here's abc's Selena Wang. Tonight with changes to vaccine policy fueling the turmoil at the CDC confusion over how and where Americans will get the new covid vaccine today just as the new vaccines are rolling out to pharmacies across the country CBS

announcing it will limit access to the shot in 16 states requiring prescriptions in 13 states, including New York, Florida and Colorado and simply not offering it in 3 others it comes just days after the FDA approved the covid vaccine for this fall only for Americans over 65 and adults and children at high risk. But a critical CDC panel is not expected to give their recommendation for

several more weeks.

Because of that uncertainty it is putting a lot of hesitancy among pharmacists and patients around what that coverage may

actually look like at the end of the day, the White House insists the vaccine will still be available for all Americans who want it but pressed on whether insurance will continue to cover it the White House

sidestepping.

The FDA's decision does not affect the availability of covid vaccines for Americans who want them we believe an

individual choice. The White House also quick to know less than 25% of Americans get the booster each year it comes as HHS secretary Robert F Kennedy junior a longtime vaccine skeptic has been overhauling the nation's vaccine policy this week ousting the head of the CDC Susan men are as when she

refused to get on board with his changes. Her lawyer saying she refused to rubber stamp unscientific reckless directives and fire dedicated health experts Kennedy charging ahead, naming his deputy Jim O'Neill as the interim director of the CDC,

who has said he supports vaccines but not vaccine mandates. And Mary with COVID cases already taking up some medical groups or warning against putting limits on who can get the shot in tonight. Walgreens is telling us that that And Mary, with COVID cases already ticking up, some medical groups are warning against

putting limits on who can get the shot. And tonight, Walgreens is telling us that they will give the vaccine shots in states where they're able to.

Mary?

And, Selena, there is breaking news just in. A federal appeals court ruling on the president's sweeping tariffs, calling them unlawful. So where does this go from here? And how is the president now responding? Mary, that's right, but those tariffs do still remain in place for now.

The court is giving the Trump administration time to appeal this case, now likely headed for the Supreme Court. And tonight, the president is weighing in. He is slamming the decision and calling on the Supreme Court to rule in his favor.

Mary? Selena, thank you. Now to President Trump revoking Secret Service protection for former Vice President Kamala Harris just weeks before she begins a nationwide book tour. ABC's Chief Justice Correspondent Pierre Thomas joins us now. And Pierre, what are you learning about this sudden move?

Former Vice President Harris has three days to come up with a new security plan after President Trump revoked her Secret Service detail effective Monday. In doing so, the president strips away an extension from former President Biden that would have given Harris a full additional year of Secret Service protection, on top of the six months offered under federal law. Tonight it's unclear what prompted the abrupt change, but Mary, it's no secret there are

not a lot of warm feelings involving the parties here.

And just before her book tour begins, Pierre, thank you. And tonight, Chicago is bracing for an immigration crackdown. The Trump administration signaling its campaign of mass deportations is heading to the Windy City as soon as next week.

Here's ABC's Jay O'Brien with more.

Tonight, President Trump ramping up his immigration crackdown, targeting Chicago. Law enforcement officials telling ABC News the administration plans to surge immigration enforcement operations in the city as early as next week, adding DHS has asked about using a nearby naval station as a base of operations. It comes as the president looks to expand what he calls a nationwide crime crackdown

after taking over law enforcement in Washington, D.C. Trump has repeatedly said his focus could soon turn to Chicago, telling me.

Chicago, everybody knows how bad it is. They should be saying, please come in.

But local officials today condemning

any influx of federal agents.

These raids are not law enforcement, but instead, they're fear enforcements.

Mass deportations, a key campaign promise of the president, who has flooded federal law enforcement supported by the National Guard to largely Democratic- run states and cities, some led by Trump's political rivals. Earlier this month, Homeland Security

conducting what it called a routine operation outside a Los Angeles event for California Governor Gavin Newsom, making one arrest, Newsom calling it an act of intimidation. And Mary, Chicago, just one part of the administration's

wide-reaching immigration enforcement plans, ICE, is now on track to have the largest budget of any federal law enforcement agency in the country.

Mary? Jay O'Brien, thank you. Overseas tonight, Israel is ramping up its military takeover of Gaza City, declaring it a dangerous combat zone. The city is home to hundreds of thousands of Palestinians. What happens to them now?

Here's ABC's chief international correspondent, James Longman.

Israeli forces tonight launching their long feared occupation of Gaza City. Once a place of refuge for hundreds of thousands displaced by war, now the IDF calls it a dangerous combat zone. Aerial bombardments have ramped up

and Israeli troops are already demolishing homes on the city outskirts. Children and families forced to move again. Raeda Aouda already displaced twice fighting back tears saying her feelings are indescribable because of the sadness and pain she feels. Israel says the siege is necessary to root out Hamas and find the remaining hostages, but humanitarian groups and some European allies fear

it's a plan to push Palestinians out for good. It comes as Israel says it's recovered the bodies of two hostages in Gaza, taken on October 7th. One of them, Ilan Weiss, was killed defending his kibbutz. Today his wife and daughter, who were also taken captive but later released, can finally mourn his loss. Mary, there are still nearly 50 hostages in Gaza, some 20 of them believed to be still alive. And tonight, their families are calling on the Netanyahu government to get back to

the negotiating table and make sure every one of them can come home. Mary?

And the future of those talks unclear. James, thank you. And when we come back, a University of Miami football player now facing charges in the deaths of three people killed in a high-speed crash. And Robin Roberts returns to the Gulf and her hometown 20 years after Katrina. The damage and the heartbreak in the region,

the children of the storm and their long road to recovery. Tonight, a University of Miami football star arrested and facing charges in a deadly high-speed crash, killing three people in Largo, Florida. Adarius Hayes now accused of vehicular homicide.

Authorities say he was going nearly 80 miles an hour in a 40-mile-per-hour zone when he crashed into a car, killing a woman and two children back in May. The school says he's been indefinitely suspended from all sports activities. And when we come back, the FDA expanding the recall for radioactive shrimp. And the Powerball jackpot hits $1 billion.

To the Index now, the FDA is expanding its recall of potentially radioactive shrimp. Wal-Mart now pulling 26,000 packages of Aquastar cocktail shrimp. Kroger recalling 18,000 bags of Mercado cooked shrimp. Health officials concerned the shrimp is contaminated with radioactive material. No illnesses, thankfully, have been reported. And this weekend marks the end of a remarkable era in college football. Lee Corso, the beloved longtime host of ESPN's College Game Day,

is retiring after nearly 40 years on the show. Now 90, he will make his final appearance at Ohio State before tomorrow's game against Texas. College Game Day airs tomorrow at 9 a.m. Eastern on ESPN. And we send our congratulations to Lee. And the Powerball jackpot now worth a staggering $1 billion. Tomorrow's drawing the largest

prize of the year. The cash option worth 453 million. Best of luck. And when we come back, Robin Roberts returns to the gulf 20 years after Katrina, the Children of the storm and their long road to recovery. Finally tonight, 20 years after the storm, Robin Roberts back in the Gulf.

20 years since Hurricane Katrina devastated the Gulf Coast. The eye of the storm not far from my beloved hometown of Pasquisham, Mississippi, leaving a trail of pain and destruction. It's so important for people to realize the long-term effect that a storm like Katrina can have,

even if an area builds back. These were homes that their ancestors passed on to them. And so to lose their homes at a time that they could not afford to live and buy in that area that area now place where they used to live and live for generations. The psychological effects of such a tragedy, one of the

worst natural disasters in our nation's history, even more

difficult for so-called Katrina babies to process.

Every sense I was a little girl, I just loved the city and loved everything about it and the people. Literally a week before Katrina was my birthday, Ziya turned nine. Everybody who was my age, all the Katrina babies, we had to do the same thing because it was just like,

in the twinkling of an eye, our lives changed.

I didn't think we was going to get rescued. We lost hope. It was just like, in the twinkling of an eye, our lives changed.

I didn't think we was gonna get rescued. We lost hope until the third day where we saw a helicopter, was able to flag it down. I'm holding on to my mom and I'm like, man, I don't want the basket to fall. And I was just like, what's next? What's life after this?

Dealing with the storm, being a child, it kind of forced you to just grow up. There was maybe a year of time where I was away from home. Functioning, it was just surviving. Then you're also hit with the reality that home is no longer the same anymore the moment you arrive.

It's hard to think about what your life is going to look like. All it seems like is that you're having to rebuild an entirely new life.

Dealing with their trauma and rebuilding their lives, Finding Joy the New Orleans Way.

Music had become my therapy. I just couldn't get enough.

We have trauma to heal from. We have wires to untangle mentally. So it's just a lot that you have to kind of unpack. So me at 31 years old, I'm still unpacking.

Our thanks to Robin for sharing their stories. Robin's special airs on ABC tonight at 8 Eastern, streaming tomorrow on Disney Plus and Hulu. Thanks for watching. I'm Mary Bruce for David and all of us here. Have a good night.

David Muir, the most watched newscast in America. David Muir, the most watched newscast in America. And now, ABC's World News Tonight has won the Emmy for best live news program for the third year in a row.