NBC Nightly News Full Episode - Feb. 18

>>> TONIGHT, THE. TERRIFYING VIDEO OF. THE DELTA PLANE CRASH. IN TORONTO. THE MOMENT OF IMPACT. WHEN A PASSENGER JET. FLIPPED OVER ON AN ICY. RUNWAY. THE FIREBALL ERUPTING. RIGHT BEFORE IT. OVERTURNED. PASSENGERS SUSPENDED. UPSIDE DOWN IN THEIR. SEATS. 21 INJURED, BUT. INCREDIBLY ALL ABOARD. ARE ACCOUNTED FOR. THE FRANTIC EVACUATION. AND NOW INVESTIGATORS. SEARCHING FOR ANSWERS. ON THE PLANE'S BLACK. BOXES.

GROWING CONCERN. SURROUNDING AVIATION. SAFETY AFTER THE. LATEST FLIGHT SCARE. HOW FLIGHT ATTENDANTS. TRAIN TO GET. PASSENGERS OUT ALIVE. >>> THE DEATH TOLL. CLIMBING AFTER SEVERE. FLOODS RAVAGE. KENTUCKY. AT LEAST 14 DEAD WITH. ANOTHER MAJOR WINTER. STORM ON THE MOVE. NEARLY A FOOT OF SNOW. BLANKETING THE MIDWEST. AS THE BRUTAL COLD. RETURNS, PACKING. RECORD LOWS FOR. MILLIONS. >>> TOP SOCIAL. SECURITY AND FDA. OFFICIALS QUIT AS. PRESIDENT TRUMP'S.

OVERHAUL OF THE. GOVERNMENT ESCALATES. >>> THOUSANDS OF. FEDERAL FIREFIGHTERS. IN LIMBO. THE POTENTIAL. CONSEQUENCES AS FIRE. SEASON APPROACHES. >>> THE U.S. AND. RUSSIA MEET FOR THE. FIRST HIGH LEVEL PEACE. TALKS WITHOUT UKRAINE. WHAT IT COULD MEAN FOR. THE WAR. >>> POPE FRANCIS. BATTLING PNEUMONIA IN. BOTH LUNGS. WHAT THE VATICAN IS. SAYING ABOUT THE. 88-YEAR-OLD'S. CONDITION. >>> IS THE ELUSIVE. FLYING CAR SET TO. SOAR? OUR FIRST LOOK AT A. VEHICLE THAT COULD.

MAKE SCIENCE FICTION A. REALITY. >>> THIS IS "NBC. NIGHTLY NEWS" WITH. LESTER HOLT. >>> GOOD EVENING AND. WELCOME. CAMERAS WERE ROLLING. AT THE MOMENT OF. IMPACT IN YESTERDAY'S. FIERY COMMERCIAL. AIRPLANE CRASH IN. TORONTO. THE VIEW TAKEN FROM. ANOTHER PLANE. CAPTURING THE FINAL. SECONDS OF A LANDING. APPROACH. AND THEN THE TOUCHDOWN. WHERE THINGS APPEAR TO. GO VERY WRONG. FLASHES OF FLAME. AROUND THE LANDING. GEAR.

A WING BREAKING AWAY. AS THE BODY OF THE. PLANE FLIPS ON ITS. BACK. CANADIAN INVESTIGATORS. ANNOUNCED THE COCKPIT. VOICE RECORDER AND. DATA RECORDER HAVE. BEEN REMOVED AND ARE. IN A LAB. THEY ARE AMONG THE. CLUES IN THE SEARCH. FOR ANSWERS, INCLUDING. HOW ALL 80 PEOPLE ON. BOARD WERE SAFELY. RESCUE AND HOW WEATHER. CONDITIONS AT THE TIME. COULD HAVE POTENTIALLY. AFFECTED THE FLIGHT. STEPHANIE GOSK REPORTS. FROM TORONTO.

>> Reporter: NEW. TERRIFYING VIDEO OF. DELTA FLIGHT 4819'S. CRASH LANDING IN. TORONTO. >> OH, NO, NO, NO. >> Reporter: THE PLANE. HITTING THE RUNWAY AND. BURSTING INTO FLAMES. JUST BEFORE FLIPPING. OVER. >> YOU SEEING THIS. AIRPLANE CRASHING? >> Reporter: SHOT FROM. THE COCKPIT OF ANOTHER. PLANE COULD BE A KEY. PIECE OF EVIDENCE, ACCORDING TO NBC NEWS. AVIATION ANALYST JOHN. COX. >> THE RIGHT WING. DEPARTS THE AIRPLANE. THE LACK OF THAT WING. IS WHAT CAUSED THE.

AIRPLANE TO ROLL OVER. >> Reporter: NO LIVES. WERE LOST IN THE. CRASH. OF THE 80 PEOPLE ON. BOARD, DELTA AIRLINES. SAYS 21 WERE TREATED. IN THE HOSPITAL. 19 HAVE BEEN RELEASED. THE FUSELAGE OF THE. PLANE STILL SITS ON. THE RUNWAY WHERE IT. WILL LIKELY REMAIN FOR. TWO DAYS ACCORDING TO. OFFICIALS. >> WE ARE CURRENTLY. WITHOUT USE OF TWO. RUNWAYS. >> Reporter: CANADIAN. INVESTIGATORS WILL BE.

LOOKING CLOSELY AT THE. WEATHER. THE FIRE CHIEF SAID. WIND WAS NOT AN ISSUE. WHEN THE PLANE. CRASHED. METEOROLOGISTS. REPORTED GUSTS AS. STRONG AS 40 MILES AN. HOUR IN THE AREA. >> THE CONDITIONS WERE. CHALLENGING BUT. NOTHING MORE THAN. PROFESSIONAL PILOTS. CAN HANDLE. >> Reporter: THIS. PASSENGER SAYS THE. DISSENT FELT NORMAL. UNTIL THE PLANE HIT. THE GROUND. DID YOU HAVE A MOMENT. WHERE YOU THOUGHT, THIS IS IT? >> I THINK SO. YEAH. I WAS LIKE, OKAY, THE. PLANE IS CRASHING. I'M GOING -- IF THE. PLANE IS CRASHING, YOU. ARE NOT GOING TO LIVE.

>> DROP IT. COME ON. >> Reporter: A. DOCUMENTARY PRODUCER. SHOOTING THIS VIDEO. AFTER BEING SUSPENDED. UPSIDE DOWN IN THEIR. SEATS. STRUCK BY HOW THE. FLIGHT ATTENDANTS. REMAINED CALM AND. HELPFUL. >> I FEEL LIKE. EVERYBODY HANDLED IT. PRETTY WELL. CONSIDERING WE WERE IN. A PLANE CRASH. >> WHAT AFFECT IS IT. HAVING ON AIR TRAFFIC? >> Reporter: IT'S. SLOWING IT DOWN. THERE WAS A BACKLOG AT. THIS AIRPORT BEFORE.

THE CRASH TOOK PLACE. BECAUSE OF SUCCESSIVE. WINTER STORMS. NOW OFFICIALS ARE. WARNING TRAVELERS, THERE COULD BE DELAYS. AND CANCELLATIONS FOR. DAYS. >>> 59 MILLION PEOPLE. REMAIN UNDER WINTER. ALERTS FROM NEBRASKA. TO NORTH CAROLINA. THE STORM BRINGS HEAVY. SNOW TO PLACES LIKE. KENTUCKY. SHAQUILLE BREWSTER IS. THERE. >> Reporter: ANOTHER. BRUTAL ROUND OF WINTER. WEATHER SWEEPING. ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

HEAVY WIND AND UP TO A. FOOT OF SNOW. BLANKETING MISSOURI. AND KANSAS CITY THIS. TRUCK JACKKNIFED. FIREFIGHTERS IN. MINNESOTA STRUGGLING. WITH WINDCHILLS OF 40. BELOW. THEIR EQUIPMENT AND. LINES FREEZING. IN DETROIT, A WATER. MAIN BREAK FORCED. FAMILIES OUT INTO THE. COLD AMID FREEZING. TEMPERATURES MONDAY. AFTER A 4 1/2 FOOT. WIDE PIPE FAILED. SWAMPING A. NEIGHBORHOOD. >> FACE FEELING LIKE. IT'S FREEZING. >> Reporter: WINDCHILLS IN CHICAGO. HITTING 23 BELOW ZERO. >> IT'S BRUTAL.

>> Reporter: AS THE. ARCTIC BLAST EXPANDS, IT WILL. PLUNGE MUCH OF THE. COUNTRY INTO. BONE-CHILLING COLD. WITH PARTS OF THE. MIDWEST BRACING FOR A. FOOT OF SNOW. >> THIS IS A SNOWSTORM. IN THE MIDDLE OF A. NATURAL DISASTER. >> Reporter: KENTUCKY. CAN SEE UP TO SIX. INCHES. A NEW THREAT AS TOWNS. HAVE BARELY START RED. COVERING FROM HISTORIC. WINTER FLOODS. >> WE GOT THE FLOOD. FIRST. WE'RE TRYING TO CLEAN. UP. THE COLD, FRINGE I HAD. TEMPERATURES AND SNOW. IS COMING LATER TODAY.

WE'RE DOING THE BEST. WE CAN. >> Reporter: 14 PEOPLE. LOST THEIR LIVES IN. KENTUCKY, INCLUDING. 73-YEAR-OLD DONALD. NICHOLSON WHOSE FAMILY. SAID HIS TRUCK STALLED. ALONG THE HIGHWAY. >> I CAN'T TELL YOU. OVER THE YEARS THE. TIMES I SAW HIM SEE. SOMEBODY OUT IN THE. STREET NEEDING A FEW. DOLLARS OR WHATEVER, HE HAD THE ABILITY TO. HELP THEM, HE WOULD. WITHOUT A SECOND. THOUGHT. >> Reporter: THE. TRAGIC AND UNRELENTING. PACE OF WINTER WEATHER.

NOT LETTING UP. SHAQUILLE BREWSTER, NBC NEWS, KENTUCKY. >>> LET'S TURN TO. WASHINGTON WHERE THERE. ARE MORE HIGH PROFILES. RESIGNATIONS. IT COMES AS MORE. FEDERAL WORKERS ARE. BRACING FOR. TERMINATION THIS WEEK. HERE IS KELLY. O'DONNELL. >> Reporter: TONIGHT, MAKING HIS MAR-A-LAGO. CLUB THE BACKDROP FOR. OFFICIAL BUSINESS, THE. PRESIDENT DEFENDED. STEEP CUTS TO FEDERAL. PROGRAMS AND SPENDING.

AND PRAISED THE. BILLIONAIRED ED ADVISOR. ELON MUSK WHO IS. DISMANTLING PARTS OF. THE GOVERNMENT. >> ELON IS TO ME A. PATRIOT. YOU COULD CALL HIM AN. EMPLOYEE. COULD YOU CALL HIM A. CONSULTANT. YOU COULD CALL HIM. WHATEVER YOU WANT. HE IS A PATRIOT. >> Reporter: ASKED IF. HE HAS ANY CONCERNS. ABOUT SPECIFIC FIRING. DECISIONS, INCLUDING A. MOVE TO REHIRE FIRED. EMPLOYEES WHO OVERSEE. THE NUCLEAR STOCKPILE? >> NO, NOT AT ALL. I THINK WE HAVE TO DO. WHAT WE HAVE TO DO. YOU ARE GOING TO --. IT'S AMAZING WHAT'S. BEEN FOUND. >> Reporter: NEW.

DETAILS ON THE FEDERAL. WORKFORCE SHAKEUP FROM. BIG RESIGNATIONS TO. THOUSANDS OF CIVIL. SERVANTS FIRED. PROMPTING A FIERCE. DEFENSE FROM WHITE. HOUSE DEPUTY CHIEF OF. STAFF STEPHEN MILLER. >> WHY ARE YOU NOT. CELEBRATING THESE. CUTS? IF YOU AGREE THERE'S. WASTE, IF YOU AGREE. THERE'S ABUSE, IF YOU. AGREE THERE'S. CORRUPTION, WHY ARE. YOU NOT CELEBRATING. THE CUTS? >> Reporter: CONFLICT. LEADS TO A TOP. OFFICIAL QUITTING AT. THE SOCIAL SECURITY. ADMINISTRATION. THE ACTING. COMMISSIONER MICHELLE. KING, A 30 YEAR. VETERAN RESIGNED AFTER.

SHE REFUSED ACCESS TO. SENSITIVE SOCIAL. SECURITY RECORDS SUCH. AS CITIZENS' FINANCIAL. AND MEDICAL. INFORMATION TO THE. DOGE GOVERNMENT. EFFICIENCY TEAM. THE WHITE HOUSE SAID. HE WANTS THE MOST. QUALIFIED INDIVIDUALS, NOT TO APPEASE THE. BUREAUCRACY. AT THE FOOD AND DRUG. ADMINISTRATION, THE. DIVISION CHIEF OVER. SAFETY OF THE FOOD. SUPPLY RESIGNED. AT THE DEPARTMENT OF. HOMELAND SECURITY, A. NEW ROUND OF. TERMINATIONS IS.

EXPECTED AMONG. HUNDREDS OF HIGH LEVEL. CIVIL SERVANTS AT ODDS. WITH THE. ADMINISTRATION'S. GOALS. ACCORDING TO THREE. SOURCES FAMILIAR WITH. THE MATTER. >> LISTEN TO THESE. NUMBERS. THIS IS ALL FRAUD. >> Reporter: PRESIDENT. TRUMP READ FROM PAGES. OF SPENDING THAT HE. CALLED FRAUD AND. CORRUPTION. BUT PROVIDED NO. EVIDENCE. >> THERE'S ALSO LATE. WORD ABOUT EMPLOYEES. WORKING ON THE. COUNTRY'S RESPONSE TO. BIRD FLU WHO WERE LET. GO. WHAT CAN YOU TELL US. ABOUT THAT? >> Reporter: THEY WERE. FIRED OVER THE.

WEEKEND. NOW THE GOVERNMENT IS. TRYING TO GET THEM. BACK. THE DEPARTMENT OF. AGRICULTURE SAYS IT IS. WORKING TO SWIFTLY. RECTIFY THE FIRING OF. SEVERAL EMPLOYEES. WORKING ON BIRD FLU. OUTBREAK. THEY ARE CONSIDERED. FRONTLINE SAFETY. WORKERS. >> KELLY O'DONNELL, THANKS. >>> PRESIDENT TRUMP'S. HIRING FREEZE HAS. STALLED THE ONBOARDING. PROCESS ACROSS FEDERAL. FIREFIGHTING AGENCIES, RAISING CONCERNS FOR. NEXT SEASON AND SOME. WARN THAT COULD HAVE. DEADLY CONSEQUENCES.

JAY COKE JACOB SOBER. OFF EXPLAINS. >> Reporter: THIS. FIREFIGHTING CAPTAIN. WANTED TO BRING US TO. SOUTHWEST WASHINGTON. WHERE HE FOUGHT THE. TUNNEL 5 FIRE. THIS ISN'T NATIONAL. FOREST? WHY DO YOU RESPOND. HERE? >> WE'RE A PART OF OUR. NATION'S PROMISE TO. THE PUBLIC TO RESPOND. TO WILDFIRE. EMERGENCIES. >> Reporter: THAT. PROMISE MIGHT BE.

GETTING HARDER TO. KEEP. AS PRESIDENT TRUMP'S. HIRING FREEZE HAS. SEASONAL FIREFIGHTERS. IN LIMBO WHEN. ONBOARDING FOR THE. NEXT FIRE SEASON. SHOULD HAVE STARTED. BY THE TIME YOU MADE. IT HERE, THIS HOUSE. WAS IN FLAMES? >> IN THE PROCESS OF. BURNING DOWN. I HAVE FIREFIGHTERS I. SHOULD BE BRINGING ON. >> Reporter: YOU CAN'T. HIRE EVEN IF YOU WANT. TO? >> I CAN'T. >> Reporter: WHY ARE. YOU THINKING ABOUT. HIRING FIREFIGHTERS? >> THIS IS THE TIME OF.

YEAR WHERE WE ARE. TRAINING, WE ARE. PREPARING, GETTING. QUALIFICATIONS WE NEED. TO ANSWER THE CALL TO. SERVICE WHEN SUMMER. DOES COME. >> Reporter: THE U.S. FOREST SERVICE, NATIONAL PARK SERVICE. EMPLOY MORE THAN. 15,000 CAREER AND. TEMPORARY. FIREFIGHTERS. A CREW FROM THE FOREST. SERVICE WAS CREDITED. WITH SAVING THIS. NEIGHBORHOOD DURING. THE EATON FIRE IN LOS. ANGELES COUNTY. IT WAS A FEDERAL CREW. LIKE THE ONE HE IS A. PART OF WHERE ANY. DELAY IN THE. ONBOARDING PROCESS CAN. AFFECT THE READINESS. OF THE TEAM. IS THERE A MESSAGE.

THAT YOU WANT, WHETHER. IT'S PRESIDENT TRUMP. OR OTHER PEOPLE IN THE. ADMINISTRATION TO HEAR. AND UNDERSTAND ABOUT. WHAT YOU SEE AS THE. URGENCY OF THIS. MOMENT? >> I WOULD LIKE THEM. TO ASK THE. FIREFIGHTERS WHAT THEY. THINK. WE DON'T HAVE ANY SKIN. IN THIS GAME OTHER. THAN PUBLIC SERVICE. >> Reporter: OVER A. DOZEN U.S. SENATORS. HAVE CALLED FOR. FIREFIGHTERS TO BE. EXEMPTED. PAUSING THE HIRING AND. ONBOARDING IS. IRRESPONSIBLE AND. DANGEROUS. >> OUR NATION'S. WILDFIRE RESPONSE. SYSTEM TRANSCENDS. POLITICS. WILDFIRE TRANSCENDS. POLITICS.

IT'S THE RIGHT THING. TO DO. TO BRING ON. FIREFIGHTERS AND. ENSURE THE PUBLIC IS. GETTING THE SERVICE. THAT THEY DESERVE AND. THAT THEY PAY FOR. >> Reporter: AS THE. SNOW FALLS, AN ALARM. SOUNDING ABOUT FIRES. TO COME. >>> WE TURN OVERSEAS. TO TALKS BETWEEN. AMERICAN AND RUSSIAN. OFFICIALS OVER ENDING. THE WAR IN UKRAINE. KEIR SIMMONS IS IN. SAUDI ARABIA WHERE THE. MEETING TOOK PLACE. KEIR, THIS WAS A MAJOR. DIPLOMATIC SHIFT FOR. THE U.S. AND RUSSIA. >> Reporter: YES,

LESTER. TONIGHT PRESIDENT. TRUMP SAID HE IS MORE. CONFIDENT AFTER. TODAY'S TALKS HERE IN. RIYADH. THE FIRST FORMAL. MEETING BETWEEN. RUSSIAN AND U.S. OFFICIALS SINCE THE. WAR IN UKRAINE BEGAN, DID NOT SET A DATE FOR. A CEASE-FIRE OR SUMMIT. BETWEEN PRESIDENTS. TRUMP AND PUTIN, BUT. THE TWO SIDES DID. AGREE TO HIGH LEVEL. TALKS AND COOPERATION. ON GEOPOLITICS AND. ECONOMICS. THAT SUGGESTS THE U.S. MAY BE READY TO REMOVE. RUSSIAN SANCTIONS. PROPOSALS THAT WILL. STUN EUROPEANS. TONIGHT, PRESIDENT.

TRUMP DID SAY HE. SUPPORTS EUROPE. SENDING TROOPS TO. UKRAINE FOR. PEACEKEEPING, A MOVE. RUSSIA SAID TODAY IT. OPPOSES. UKRAINE'S LEADER SAID. AGAIN, HE WILL NOT. SIGN UP TO ANY DEAL HE. DID NOT NEGOTIATE. LESTER? >> KEIR SIMMONS, THANK. YOU. >>> THE VATICAN IS. REVEALING POPE FRANCIS. IS BATTLING PNEUMONIA. IN BOTH LUNGS. THE 88-YEAR-OLD. PONTIFF HAS BEEN. RECOVERING AT A. HOSPITAL IN ROME AFTER. FALLING ILL WITH A. RESPIRATORY TRACK. INFECTION. HE WAS ADMITTED FRIDAY.

TO TREAT BRONCHITIS. THE POPE'S HEALTH IS A. COMPLEX PICTURE BUT. SAYS HIS SPIRITS ARE. GOOD. >>> IN 60 SECONDS, HOW. THE CREW FROM THAT. TORONTO PLANE CRASH. USED THEIR TRAINING TO. GET EVERYONE OUT. ALIVE. >>> HIGHER ODDS THAT. AN ASTEROID COULD HIT. PLANET EAR. >>> WE'RE BACK WITH A. LOOK AT HOW THE CRASH. IN TORONTO APPEARS TO. BE A TEXTBOOK CASE OF. HOW TO SURVIVE AND.

RESPOND TO AN AVIATION. EMERGENCY. NBC'S TOM COSTELLO. EXPLAINS. >> Reporter: WITH THE. WRECKAGE OF THE JET. STILL RESTING ON A. TORONTO RUNWAY, AVIATION EXPERTS SAY. THE FACT EVERYONE. SURVIVED IS DUE IN NO. SMALL PART TO THE. FLIGHT ATTENDANTS. >> DROP IT. >> Reporter: WHO. REMAINED COMPOSED YET. IN CHARGE ORDERING. PASSENGERS TO WAIT. UNTIL THEY ASSURED IT. WAS SAFE TO EVACUATE, THEN MOVE. >> THEY ANNOUNCED NOT. TO GET OUT OF THEIR. SEATS. PEOPLE WERE HANGING. THERE FOR -- I CAN'T.

REMEMBER HOW LONG. JUST ABOUT A MINUTE. THEN THEY WERE LIKE, OKAY, GET DOWN. >> Reporter: VETERAN. FLIGHT ATTENDANTS CALL. IT A TEXTBOOK. RESPONSE. >> DIFFICULT. THIS FLIGHT ATTENDANT. HAD TO FIND THE. OPENING, MAKE THE HOLE. AND SHOUT THE COMMANDS. TO GET PEOPLE OUT. SAFELY. >> Reporter: TEXTBOOK, THE FIREFIGHTING. RESPONSE. REQUIRED TO BE ON. SCENE WITHIN THREE. MINUTES. AN M.I.T. STUDY SHOWS. FATAL COMMERCIAL PLANE. CRASHES ARE RARE.

ONE IN 13.7 MILLION. PASSENGER BOARDINGS. GLOBALLY. >> RELEASE SEAT BELTS. LEAVE EVERYTHING. >> Reporter: LIKE. OTHER AIRLINES, DELTA. FLIGHT ATTENDANTS GO. THROUGH WEEKS OF. INTENSE TRAINING. RECREATING THE CHAOS. OF AN EMERGENCY. THE FAA REQUIRES YOU. TO EVACUATE IN 90. SECONDS. >> THE GOAL IS TO GET. THEM OFF THE AIRCRAFT. AS QUICKLY AS. POSSIBLE. ESPECIALLY IN AN.

EMERGENCY. >> Reporter: KICK YOUR. FEET AND ARMS OUT AND. SLIDE DOWN AND LET. THESE GUYS CATCH YOU. AT THE BOTTOM. COMMANDS MUST BE. CONCISE AND CLEAR. LEAVING PURSES, BAGS. AND BACKPACKS BEHIND. >> TOM, I WOULD THINK. COMPARED TO PLANES OF. YEARS AGO, TODAY THEY. ARE OF TOUGHER. MATERIAL AND MAYBE. BETTER ABLE TO. WITHSTAND A CRASH. >> ABSOLUTELY. SEATS NOW CAN. WITHSTAND G FORCES 16. Gs. INTERIORS ARE FLAME.

RETARDANT GIVING. PASSENGERS TIME TO GET. OUT. >> THANKS. >>> TO AN UPDATE FROM. NASA. THE AGENCY RELEASING. DATA THAT RAISES THE. ODDS THAT AN ASTEROID. COULD HIT HERE ON. PLANET EARTH. MARISSA PARRA JOINS. US. >> Reporter: SCIENTISTS SAYING THE. ASTEROID HAS A 3.1%. PROBABILITY OF IMPACT. THANKS TO NEW. OBSERVATIONS. THAT'S UP ABOUT 1%. FROM WHAT WE REPORTED. A FEW DAYS AGO.

THE ASTEROID IS. ROUGHLY THE SIZE OF. THE STATUE OF LIBERTY. SCIENTISTS WILL USE A. TELESCOPE TO GET A. BETTER LOOK BEFORE IT. DISAPPEARS BEHIND THE. SUN UNTIL 2028. IF THIS ASTEROID DID. HIT IT WOULD BE LARGE. ENOUGH TO WIPE OUT A. CITY. A 96.9% CHANCE IT WILL. MISS THE EARTH. SCIENTISTS HAVE OVER. SEVEN YEARS TO. PREPARE. >> LOVE HEARING FOR. THE OPTIMISM. THANK YOU. >>> BACK IN A MOMENT. WITH A PUSH TO BRING. FLYING CARS TO THE. SKIES.

>>> IN CALIFORNIA, A. STARTUP SAYS IT IS. CLOSE TO PIONEERING A. PIECE OF FUTURE TECH. MANY OF US HAVE BEEN. DREAMING ABOUT FOR. YEARS. A FLYING CAR. OUR STEVE PATTERSON. GOT AN EXCLUSIVE LOOK. MID FLIGHT. >> Reporter: FOR ALL. THE ADVANCES IN. AUTOMOTIVE TECH, ONE. ISSUE IS GETTING. WORSE. GRIDLOCKED TRAFFIC. THIS SILICON VALLEY. STARTUP SAYS THE.

SOLUTION COMES. STRAIGHT FROM OUR. IMAGINATION. THE FLYING CAR. >> YOU CAN CUT YOUR. COMMUTE IN HALF IF NOT. MORE. >> Reporter: THIS MAN. SAYS HIS COMPANY WAS. ABLE TO CREATE. SOMETHING WE HAVE BEEN. DREAMING ABOUT SINCE. THE JETSONS. WHILE NOT READY FOR. THE ROAD, HE SAYS THE. FLYING CAR IS ABOUT TO. TAKE OFF.

NBC NEWS WAS GIVEN. EXCLUSIVE ACCESS TO. SEE THE CONCEPT MODEL. WITH OUR OWN EYES. IF EVERYTHING GOES. SMOOTHLY, I WILL WATCH. A CAR FLY OVER ANOTHER. CAR. WE WILL SEE. SURE ENOUGH, WE. WATCHED IT SOAR. THROUGH THE AIR OVER. ANOTHER CAR AND LAND. FOR ALL THE MAGIC OF. THIS MOMENT, WE WERE. RESTRICTED. FORCED TO SHOOT HALF A. FOOTBALL FIELD AWAY. WE NEVER ACTUALLY SAW. THE DRIVER ENTERING OR. EXITING THE VEHICLE. YOU ARE NOT ALL THE. WAY THERE YET BECAUSE. YOU WOULDN'T LET ME IN. THE COCKPIT YET. >> THERE'S A.

DIFFERENCE BETWEEN YOU. AND THE CONSUMER. WE HAVE SOME. INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY. WE ARE TRYING TO. PROTECT. >> Reporter: THE. COMPANY IS AIMING TO. BEGIN PRODUCTION BY. NEXT YEAR. PRACTICALITY MIGHT BE. WHERE THE RUBBER MEETS. THE SKY. ONLY A FEW COUNTRIES. ALLOW FOR THE KIND OF. ROAD TO AIR REALITY HE. ENVISIONS. >> IT'S GOING TO BE. SLOW, INCREMENTAL. APPROACH, WHICH IS.

GOOD FOR LEGAL. INTEGRATION, WHICH IS. GOOD FOR CONSUMER. INTEGRATION. >> Reporter: AS DEMAND. GROWS, REGULATIONS. WILL CATCH UP WITH. TECH. FOR NOW, IT'S THAT. CUTTING EDGE PIE IN. THE SKY. STEVE PATTERSON, NBC. NEWS, SILICON VALLEY. >>> HOW ABOUT THAT? THERE IS GOOD NEWS. TONIGHT. >>> FINALLY, THERE'S. GOOD NEWS TONIGHT IN. KENTUCKY. IN THE MIDST OF SO.

MUCH DEVASTATION, RESIDENTS COMING. TOGETHER TO HELP ONE. BELOVED MEMBER OF THE. COMMUNITY. >> Reporter: THE. FLOODS OF KENTUCKY MAY. HAVE UPENDED LIVES. HOPE IS AT AN EATERY. BADLY DAMAGED. >> IT'S AN EASTERN. KENTUCKY THING. SOMEBODY IS IN. TROUBLE, WE HELP. >> Reporter: ONCE WORD. GOT OUT THE DINER WAS. UNDERWATER --. >> IT'S AWFUL. >> Reporter: HELP. MOVED IN. >> THEY SUPPORT US. WE ARE HERE TO SUPPORT.

THEM. >> Reporter: AT 84, FRANCIS, THE MATRIARCH. OF THE LOCAL FIXTURE, HAS BEEN SERVING UP. TASTY SOUTHERN MEALS. FOR MORE THAN FIVE. DECADES. WHY DO YOU THINK IT'S. SO SPECIAL? >> HOME COOKING. COUNTRY COOKING. HOW ARE YOU? >> I'M GOOD. >> Reporter: IT'S THE. SIGHT OF WARMTH AND. GENEROSITY THAT KEEP. PEOPLE COMING BACK. >> PUTTING LOVE INTO. HER FOOD. >> IT'S LIKE YOUR. GRANDMA. SHE WILL FIX ANYTHING. YOU WANT. >> Reporter: THE.

COMMUNITY THAT SHE FED. AND NURTURED FOR YEARS. IS RETURNING THE. FAVOR. RESTORING HER NAMESAKE. RESTAURANT. WHAT DO YOU WANT TO. TELL THE PEOPLE. HELPING YOU RIGHT NOW? >> I APPRECIATE THEM. SO MUCH. >> Reporter: AS SHE. REBUILDS, SHE KNOWS. HER LATE HUSBAND WILL. BE CLOSE BY. WHAT WOULD HE SAY IF. HE WAS STILL HERE. TODAY? >> HE WOULD BE. HEARTBROKEN. HE WOULD TELL ME, IT'S. GOING TO BE ALL RIGHT. >> Reporter: KATHY. PARK, NBC NEWS.

ARE YOU READY TO GET. BACK INTO THE KITCHEN? >> I AM. >> Reporter: HAZARD, KENTUCKY. >>> THAT'S "NIGHTLY. NEWS" FOR THIS. TUESDAY. THANKS FOR WATCHING. I'M LESTER HOLT. PLEASE TAKE CARE OF. YOURSELF AND EACH. OTHER. GOOD NIGHT. GOOD N.