NBC Nightly News Full Episode - Jan. 30

>>> TONIGHT, THE GROWING. QUESTIONS OVER THE DEADLY MIDAIR. DISASTER. 67 PEOPLE KILLED WHEN A. BLACKHAWK HELICOPTER COLLIDED. WITH AN AMERICAN AIRLINES. REGIONAL JET. >> I JUST HAVE SPENT THE LAST, YOU KNOW, 24 HOURS THINKING. ABOUT MY WIFE IN THAT PLANE. >> THE PLANE BREAKING INTO TWO, BOTH AIRCRAFT PLUNGING INTO THE. ICY POTOMAC RIVER. RESCUE CREWS SEARCHING OVERNIGHT.

FOR PASSENGERS AND WRECKAGE. >> THIS WAS A DARK AND. EXCRUCIATING NIGHT IN OUR. NATION'S CAPITAL. >> PRESIDENT TRUMP CALLING IT. AMERICA'S HOUR OF ANGUISH, BUT. ALSO SUGGESTING DEMOCRATS'. DIVERSITY INITIATIVES WERE A. FACTOR. THE NEW BACKLASH TONIGHT. WHAT WE'RE LEARNING ABOUT THE. LOSSES FOR THE RUSSIAN AND.

AMERICAN ICE SKATING. COMMUNITIES. NANCY KERRIGAN'S MESSAGE. AND WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT THE. MILITARY PERSONNEL ON BOARD THAT. CHOPPER. THE INVESTIGATION UNDER WAY INTO. HOW THIS COULD HAPPEN. NBC'S TOM COSTELLO WITH NEW. REPORTING TONIGHT ON THE. STAFFING LEVELS INSIDE THE AIR. TRAFFIC CONTROL TOWER. >>> AND THE HEATED HEARINGS FOR. TWO OF PRESIDENT TRUMP'S MOST. CONTROVERSIAL NOMINEES, KASH. PATEL AND TULSI GABBARD. WILL THEY GET ENOUGH REPUBLICAN. VOTES TO BE CONFIRMED? >> Announcer: THIS IS "NBC.

NIGHTLY NEWS" WITH LESTER HOLT, REPORTING TONIGHT FROM. WASHINGTON, D.C. >>> GOOD EVENING FROM REAGAN. NATIONAL AIRPORT, WHERE FLIGHTS. RESUMED TODAY FOLLOWING LAST. NIGHT'S DEADLY MID-AIR COLLISION. BETWEEN AN AMERICAN EAGLE. PASSENGER JET AND AN ARMY. BLACKHAWK HELICOPTER. TODAY FAMILIES OF SOME OF THE 67. PEOPLE NOW PRESUMED DEAD BEGAN. ARRIVING HERE AS SEARCH TEAMS. RECOVERED THE VICTIMS FROM THE. ICY WATERS OF THE POTOMAC.

SOME OF THE COUNTRY'S MOST. PROMISING YOUNG FIGURE SKATERS. AMONG THE VICTIMS. TONIGHT THE NTSB HAS DOZENS OF. INVESTIGATORS AT THE SCENE. NBC NEWS HAS LEARNED THAT. AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL STAFFING WAS. NOT NORMAL WHEN THE CRASH. HAPPENED, BUT STILL CONSIDERED. ACCEPTABLE. PRESIDENT TRUMP FIRST OFFERING. CONDOLENCES, BUT THEN TURNING. POLITICAL, SUGGESTING DIVERSITY. PROGRAMS PLAYED A ROLE IN THE. CRASH, DRAWING STRONG CRITICISM. TONIGHT. WE'RE COVERING IT ALL, STARTING. LAST NIGHT WITH THE UNTHINKABLE.

TERRIFYING MOMENTS IN THE SKIES. OVER WASHINGTON, D.C. >> CRASH, CRASH, CRASH. >> AN AMERICAN AIRLINES REGIONAL. JET COLLIDING WITH AN ARMY. BLACKHAWK HELICOPTER, BOTH. PLUMMETING INTO THE FRIGID. POTOMAC RIVER. >> DID YOU SEE THAT? >> IT WAS ABOUT 8:40 P.M. THE AMERICAN EAGLE FLIGHT FROM. WICHITA, KANSAS, WAS SECONDS. FROM LANDING AT REAGAN NATIONAL. AIRPORT WITH 60 PASSENGERS AND. FOUR CHARLOTTE-BASED CREW.

MEMBERS ON BOARD. THREE PEOPLE WERE ON THE. BLACKHAWK CHOPPER, INCLUDING AT. LEAST ONE EXPERIENCED PILOT, ACCORDING TO U.S. MILITARY. OFFICIALS. ONE OF THE KEYS TO THE. INVESTIGATION WILL BE. UNDERSTANDING THE LEVEL OF. SITUATIONAL AWARENESS IN BOTH. COCKPITS AND THE TOWER. WERE THEY SEEING AND TALKING. ABOUT THE SAME THINGS? WAS THERE SHARED UNDERSTANDING, AND DID THEY UNDERSTAND THE. PICTURE RAPIDLY FORMING AROUND. THEM? NBC NEWS HAS LEARNED STAFFING. WAS NOT NORMAL IN THE AIR. TRAFFIC CONTROL TOWER AT THE. TIME OF THE CRASH, BUT STILL. ACCEPTABLE BY FAA STANDARDS.

AT ONE POINT A CONTROLLER CAN BE. HEARD TRYING TO KEEP DISTANCE. BETWEEN THE HELICOPTER AND THE. PLANE. THE COMMISSION CAUGHT ON EARTH. CAM VIDEO. HAMAD RASA WAS AT THE AIRPORT TO. PICK UP HIS WIFE FROM A BUSINESS. TRIP WHEN HE PLANE WENT DOWN. >> I ALWAYS HELP HER LOAD THE. BAG AND GIVE HER A BIG HUG AND A. KISS. AND THEN OFF WE GO. I HAD DINNER WAITING AT HOME. >> WHAT DO YOU WANT US TO KNOW. ABOUT YOUR WIFE?

>> MY WIFE WAS SUCH A GIVER. SHE GAVE AND GAVE AND GAVE. ALMOST TO THE POINT WHERE SHE. DIDN'T THINK ABOUT HERSELF. ENOUGH. >> THEY WERE COLLEGE. SWEETHEARTS. NOW HE IS WAITING TO CLAIM HER. BODY. >> WE ARE JUST COUNTING DOWN THE. HOURS UNTIL MY PHONE RINGS AND. WE CAN GO PICK HER UP. >> ABOUT 300 FIRST RESPONDERS. WORKED THROUGH THE NIGHT, PULLING BODIES FROM 35-DEGREE.

DARK AND ICY WATERS. DESPITE THE MASSIVE RESCUE. EFFORT, BY MORNING IT TURNED. INTO A RECOVERY OPERATION. >> WE DON'T BELIEVE THERE ARE. ANY SURVIVORS. >> ON THE FLIGHT FROM KANSAS, SEVERAL MEMBERS OF THE U.S. FIGURE SKATING COMMUNITY, INCLUDING ATHLETES AND COACHES. ALONG WITH TWO RUSSIAN WORLD. CHAMPION SKATERS.

>> IT'S TOUGH, YOU KNOW, LIKE. THEY'RE GONE. THAT'S WHAT KILLED ME, THESE. KIDS. I WORK WITH KIDS ALL DAY LONG. IT'S JUST ONE OF THOSE THINGS. WHERE YOU DON'T WANT ANYBODY TO. GO THROUGH THIS. >> TERESA TERRY'S DAUGHTER. SKATED WITH TWO OF THE VICTIMS. >> JUST DEVASTATED. THERE'S NO WORDS TO DESCRIBE. THIS IS UNIMAGINABLE. >> THE ARMY HAS NOT IDENTIFIED. THE PEOPLE IN THE BLACKHAWK. WHICH WAS CONDUCTING ROUTINE. NIGHT TRAINING IN THE. HIGH-TRAFFIC AIR SPACE. >> THE HELICOPTER OBVIOUSLY WAS. IN THE WRONG PLACE AT THE WRONG.

TIME. >> TODAY THE PRESIDENT OFFERED. HIS CONDOLENCES. >> WE GRIEVE FOR EVERY PRECIOUS. SOUL THAT HAS BEEN TAKEN FROM. US. >> WHILE BASELESSLY SUGGESTING. DIVERSITY OR DEI INITIATIVES. CONTRIBUTED TO THE CRASH. >> WE MUST HAVE ONLY THE HIGHEST. STANDARDS FOR THOSE WHO WORK IN. OUR AVIATION SYSTEM. >> WHEN ASKED HOW HE COULD BLAME. DEI, THIS WAS TRUMP'S. RESPONSE --. >> BECAUSE I HAVE COMMON SENSE, OKAY?

>> THE NTSB IS LEADING THE. INVESTIGATION AND IS THE ONLY. AGENCY AUTHORIZED TO RELEASE. INFORMATION ABOUT A CAUSE. >> WE HAVE ALREADY NEARLY 50. PEOPLE ON SCENE. >> JENNIFER HAMMONDY IS THE. CHAIR OF THE NTSB. >> IS THIS ONE OF THE WORST. FEARS OF THE NTSB? >> YES, IT IS. IT'S ACTUALLY SOMETHING THAT I. WARNED ABOUT BEFORE CONGRESS. WHEN I LAST TESTIFIED ON. AVIATION SAFETY, THAT THIS WAS. EXACTLY OUR WORST FEAR. AND HERE WE ARE INVESTIGATING A. TRAGEDY THAT WE HAVEN'T SEEN IN.

YEARS. >> WE ASKED HER ABOUT NOT-NORMAL. STAFFING IN THE CONTROL TOWER. WHEN THIS HAPPENED. WHAT'S THE NTSB RESPONSE TO. THAT? >> THAT'S NOT NEW TO US. WE HAVE SEEN LOW STAFFING IN. OTHER TOWERS. >> THIS IS THE FIRST DEADLY. COMMERCIAL PLANE DISASTER IN THE. U.S. SINCE 2009, WHEN 49 PEOPLE. DIED DURING A CRASH LANDING IN. BUFFALO, NEW YORK. NOW, FAMILIES OF THE 67 ARE. FACING A NEW REALITY AS THEY.

LEARN THEIR LOVED ONES WERE ON. THESE DOOMED FLIGHTS. SO MANY OF THOSE WHO DIED IN. THIS TRAGEDY HAD SO MUCH OF. THEIR LIVES AHEAD OF THEM, A. YOUNG PILOT, SOLDIERS, SOME OF. THE RISING STARS OF THE FIGURE. SKATING WORLD. TOM LLAMAS HAS THEIR STORIES. >> Reporter: IN THAT STUNNING. MOMENT OF HORROR, FLIGHT 5342. WAS ONLY MINUTES FROM LANDING. WHEN THE LIVES OF ITS 60. PASSENGERS AND FOUR CREW MEMBERS. SUDDENLY ENDED.

THE VIOLENT COLLISION WITH THE. U.S. ARMY BLACKHAWK HELICOPTER. ALSO KILLING THREE U.S. SERVICE. MEMBERS, AN ARMY CAPTAIN, STAFF. SERGEANT AND CHIEF WARRANT. OFFICER. 67 LIVES LOST IN AN INSTANT. AND LAST NIGHT AS FRIENDS AND. FAMILY OF THE VICTIMS PRAYED FOR. A MIRACLE, THERE WAS LITTLE. HOPE. BECAUSE AFTER THAT COLLISION IN. THE SKY, BOTH AIRCRAFT PLUMMETED. INTO THE POTOMAC RIVER, THE ICY.

WATERS WERE WAIST DEEP AND ABOUT. 35 DEGREES. TONIGHT WE SPOKE WITH D.C.'S. FIRE CHIEF MOMENTS BEFORE HE. WENT TO MEET WITH THOSE VICTIMS'. FAMILIES. WHEN YOU GO INTO A MEETING LIKE. THAT, WHAT GOES THROUGH YOUR. HEAD? WHAT DO YOU WANT TO TELL THEM? #. >> THEY'RE GOING TO ASK US. QUESTIONS AND WE'RE GOING TO DO. OUR BEST TO ANSWER THOSE. QUESTIONS WITH THE FACTS. >> Reporter: THE FIRST OFFICER. OF THE AMERICAN AIRLINES FLIGHT. WAS SAM LILLEY, HIS FATHER. POSTING HE WAS SO PROUD WHEN SAM. BECAME A PILOT. ALSO ON THE FLIGHT, SOME OF THE. COUNTRY'S MOST PROMISING YOUNG. FIGURE SKATERS WHO WERE IN. WICHITA AT A TRAINING CAMP.

>> THEY'RE OUR BROTHERS AND. SISTERS. WE'RE ALL VERY CLOSE. >> Reporter: THE SKATING CLUB OF. BOSTON DEVASTATED, SIX. AFFILIATED WITH THE CLUB. PERISHED. OLYMPIC FIGURE SKATER. NANCY KERRIGAN TRAINED WITH THE. CLUB AS A TEEN. >> MUCH LIKE EVERYONE HERE'S. BEEN SAYING, NOT SURE HOW TO. PROCESS IT. SHOOT. I'M SORRY. >> Reporter: FOR 1956 OLYMPIC.

CHAMPION TENLEY ALBRIGHT, THE. TRAGEDY BROUGHT BACK MEMORIES OF. THE 1961 PLANE CRASH THAT KILLED. 18 U.S. FIGURE SKATERS. >> I CAN'T BELIEVE IT HAPPENED. I PICTURE THEM RIGHT HERE. >> Reporter: AMONG THOSE LOST. NOW, 13-YEAR-OLD SKATER JINNA. HAN AND HER MOTHER. JINNA WAS KNOWN FOR HER GRACE.

AND MUSICALITY ON THE ICE. AND 16-YEAR-OLD SPENCER LANE, WHO WAS TRAVELING WITH HIS MOM. CHRISTINE. SPENCER WAS KNOWN FOR HIS JUMPS, CHRONICLING HIS PROGRESS ON. TIKTOK. HIS FINAL POST ON GRAM, THIS. VIEW FROM HIS PLANE WINDOW. BEFORE TAKEOFF. >> SKATING IS A VERY CLOSE AND. TIGHT-KNIT COMMUNITY. IT'S A CLOSE, TIGHT BOND. I THINK FOR ALL OF US, WE HAVE. LOST FAMILY. >> Reporter: ALSO ON BOARD, SKATING COACHES AND FORMER WORLD.

CHAMPIONS EVGENIA SHISHKOVA AND. VADIM NAUMOV. THEY LEAVE BEHIND THEIR SON MAX, A SKATER HOPING TO QUALIFY FOR. THE WINTER OLYMPICS NEXT YEAR. BRIELLE BEYER WAS ONLY 12 YEARS. OLD, HER MOTHER JUSTYNA. MAGDALENA BEYER ALSO ON THE. PLANE. >> SHE WAS REALLY TALENTED AND. MY INSPIRATION. >> YOU SPOKE TO THAT D.C. FIRE. CHIEF TODAY. I'M CURIOUS, TALK ABOUT THE. MOMENT THEY GOT TO THE SCENE.

>> HE TOLD US WHEN THEY CAME OUT. HERE, THEY HAD HOPE THEY WOULD. FIND SURVIVORS. BUT AFTER SEVERAL HOURS. THEY WERE SEARCHING, THEY FOUND. NO SURVIVORS. THEY SAID THE WATER WAS TOO. DARK, IT WAS TOO COLD. NOBODY COULD HAVE SURVIVED THAT. NOW THE RECOVERY OPTION IS. TAKING A LITTLE BIT LONGER. SOME VICTIMS MAY BE TRAPPED OR. THEY MAY NOT HAVE LOCATED THEM. JUST YET. >>> TONIGHT, THE NTSB HAS 50. PEOPLE ON THE GROUND HERE AT. REAGAN NATIONAL AIRPORT, BEGINNING WHAT WILL LIKELY. BECOME A VERY LONG. INVESTIGATION.

TOM COSTELLO REPORTS NOW ON WHAT. MIGHT HAVE GONE WRONG. >> Reporter: TONIGHT, A SOURCE. TELLS NBC NEWS A PRELIMINARY FAA. REPORT ON THE MID-AIR CRASH. INDICATES STAFFING AT THE REAGAN. AIRPORT TOWER WAS NOT NORMAL FOR. THE AMOUNT OF TRAFFIC AT THAT. HOUR. NORMALLY ONE CONTROLLER HANDLES. PLANES WHILE ANOTHER CONTROLS. HELICOPTERS. WEDNESDAY NIGHT, ONE CONTROLLER. WAS DOING BOTH AT THE TIME OF. THE CRASH, THOUGH THAT IS.

ACCEPTABLE UNDER ESTABLISHED FAA. STANDARDS. INVESTIGATORS' BEST CLUES INTO. WHAT WENT WRONG MAY RELY ON. THOSE LAST WORDS AS THE. CONTROLLER ASKED THE CHOPPER. CREW IF THEY COULD SEE THE. REGIONAL JET. THE RESPONSE. THE RESPONSE IS GARBLED. DOES THE CHOPPER PILOT SAY. "AIRCRAFT IN SIGHT"? IF SO, WHY DID THEY COLLIDE? MIRACLE ON THE HUDSON CAPTAIN.

SULLY SULLENBERGER I SAYS RADIO. RESPONSE IS CRITICAL. >> IT CHANGED THE RULES AND IT. REQUIRED THAT THEY SEE EACH. OTHER UNTIL THEY WERE SAFELY. CLEAR. >> Reporter: LIKE MANY AIRPORTS, REAGAN HAS HAD ITS SHARE OF. CLOSE CALLS IN RECENT YEARS. MARCH 7th, 2023, CONTROLLERS. ORDERED A UNITED FLIGHT TO ABORT. TAKEOFF AFTER ANOTHER PLANE. CROSSED IN FRONT OF IT. APRIL 18th, 2024, A SOUTHWEST. PLANE CROSSED A RUNWAY JUST AS A.

JETBLUE FLIGHT WAS ABOUT TO TAKE. OFF. MAY 30th, 2024, ANOTHER CLOSE. CALL. VETERAN PILOTS SAY FLYING UP THE. RIVER INVOLVES. STAYING BETWEEN 400 AND 500 FEET. WHILE HELICOPTERS SHOULD BE. FLYING BENEATH THEM UNDER 200. FEET. >> IT REQUIRES A LOT OF SKILL. THE RUNWAY IS VERY SMALL FOR AN. AIRPORT THAT HANDLES THIS AMOUNT. OF TRAFFIC. >> THE NEW TRANSPORTATION. SECRETARY SAYS LAST NIGHT'S.

FLIGHT ACTIVITY WAS ROUTINE. >> THIS WAS NOT UNUSUAL WITH THE. MILITARY AIRCRAFT FLYING THE. RIVER AND AIRCRAFT LANDING AT. DCA. >> Reporter: WE HAVE SOME. BREAKING NEWS. A SOURCE FAMILIAR WITH THE. INVESTIGATION TELLS US. INVESTIGATORS HAVE RECOVERED THE. BLACK BOXES FROM THE REGIONAL. JET. THEY WILL ALREADY BE UNDER. REVIEW AT THE NTSBING. HEADQUARTERS JUST ABOUT A MILE. AWAY. >> WHAT ELSE ARE WE LEARNING IN. THE INVESTIGATION SO FAR? >> Reporter: SOURCES ARE TELLING.

US THEY ARE GOING TO BE LOOKING. AT WHETHER THAT CHOPPER PILOT. WAS FLYING ABOVE THE DESIGNATED. ALTITUDE. AND IF SO, THAT COULD HAVE PUT. THEM IN DIRECT CONFLICT WITH THE. AMERICAN EAGLE FLIGHT. >> THANK YOU, TOM. >>> WE LEARNED MORE ABOUT THAT. BLACKHAWK HELICOPTER AND ITS. CREW. COURTNEY KUBE, WHAT ARE YOU. FINDING OUT FROM YOUR SOURCES? >> Reporter: THE BLACKHAWK CREW. INCLUDED THREE U.S. SOLDIERS. FROM VIRGINIA, ARMY OFFICIALS. CALLING THEM A VERY EXPERIENCED. CREW, INCLUDING AN INSTRUCTOR.

PILOT WITH OVER 1,000 FLIGHT. HOURS. THIS WAS A ROUTINE EVALUATION OF. THE PILOT'S ABILITY TO FLY AT. NIGHT, THE CREW WELL AWARE OF. THE ROUTE AND THE RULES IN THIS. AIR SPACE. THE MILITARY HAS NOT YET. IDENTIFIED THE CREW, BUT. OFFICIALS SAY ONE OF THE MEMBERS. WAS A WOMAN. ARMY OFFICIALS CONFIRMING THEY. DID HAVE NIGHT-VISION. GOGGLES, THOUGH IT'S STILL NOT. CLEAR IF THEY WERE WEARING THEM. TONIGHT, ONLY ONE OF THOSE. SOLDIERS HAS BEEN RECOVERED. >>> IN 60 SECONDS, MORE ON HOW.

PRESIDENT TRUMP LINKED DIVERSITY. PROGRAMS TO THE DEADLY MIDAIR. CRASH AND THE FIERCE BACKLASH. >>> BACK NOW WITH THE NEW. BACKLASH AFTER PRESIDENT TRUMP. ASSERTED TODAY, WITHOUT PROVIDE. ING EVIDENCE, THAT DEMOCRATS'. DIVERSITY PROGRAMS MAY HAVE. PLAYED A ROLE IN THE MIDAIR. CRASH. GARRETT HAAKE WITH THAT STORY. >> Reporter: TONIGHT IN A WHITE. HOUSE NEWS CONFERENCE THAT BEGAN. WITH A SOMBER MOMENT OF SILENCE, PRESIDENT TRUMP PIVOTING FROM. PRAYER --.

>> I SPEAK TO THIS MORNING IN AN. HOUR OF ANGUISH FOR OUR NATION. >> Reporter: -- TO POLITICS. >> I PUT SAFETY FIRST. OBAMA, BIDEN AND THE DEMOCRATS. PUT POLICY FIRST. >> Reporter: SUGGESTING, WITHOUT. EVIDENCE, THAT DEMOCRATIC DEI. POLICIES AT THE FAA AND. MILITARY, WHICH PRESIDENT TRUMP. ENDED LAST WEEK WITH AN. EXECUTIVE ORDER, MAY HAVE. CONTRIBUTED TO THE MIDAIR. COLLISION. >> WE HAVE TO HAVE OUR SMARTEST. PEOPLE. IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT THEY LOOK. LIKE, HOW THEY SPEAK.

WHAT MATTERS, INTELLECT, TALENT. >> Reporter: AT ONE POINT GOING. AFTER BIDEN TRANSPORTATION. SECRETARY PETE BUTTIGIEG. >> HE'S GOT A GOOD LINE OF. BULLSHIT. HE'S RUNNING IT INTO THE GROUND. WITH HIS DIVERSITY. >> Reporter: BUT REPORTERS. PRESSING THE PRESIDENT, WHAT. EVIDENCE DID HE HAVE THAT. DIVERSITY CAUSED THE CRASH? >> IT JUST COULD HAVE BEEN. >> ARE YOU SAYING RACE OR GENDER. PLAYED A ROLE IN THIS TRAGEDY? >> IT MAY HAVE. I DON'T KNOW.

INCOMPETENCE MIGHT HAVE PLAYED A. ROLE. WE'LL LET YOU KNOW. >> ECHOED BY THE VICE PRESIDENT. >> THE ERA OF DEI IS GONE AT THE. DEFENSE DEPARTMENT. >> Reporter: BUT THE COMMENT. SPARKING FIERCE BACKLASH, BUTTIGIEG POSTING, DESPICABLE. AS FAMILIES GRIEVE, TRUMP SHOULD. BE LEADING, NOT LYING. WE PUT SAFETY FIRST. THE TOP SENATE DEMOCRAT. RESPONDING. >> FOR THE PRESIDENT OF THE. UNITED STATES TO THROW OUT IDLE. SPECULATION AS BODIES ARE STILL. BEING RECOVERED AND FAMILIES.

STILL BEING NOTIFIED, IT JUST. TURNS YOUR STOMACH. >> Reporter: THE PRESIDENT ALSO. NAMING A NEW ACTING FAA. ADMINISTRATOR TODAY. THAT POSITION HAD BEEN VACANT. SINCE INAUGURATION DAY. LESTER. >> GARRETT HAAKE, THANK YOU. >>> AND COMING UP, THE HEARINGS. >>> WE'RE BACK NOW WITH THE. >>> WE'RE BACK NOW WITH THE. HEATED CONFIRMATION HEARINGS FOR. PRESIDENT TRUMP'S PICKS FOR. DIRECTOR OF NATIONAL. INTELLIGENCE AND THE FBI, TULSI. GABBARD AND KASH PATEL.

RYAN NOBLES NOW WITH THAT STORY. >> Reporter: TONIGHT, A PAIR OF. PRESIDENT TRUMP'S TOP NATIONAL. SECURITY NOMINEES FACING. HIGH-STAKES CONFIRMATION. HEARINGS. >> THERE WILL BE NO. POLITICIZATION AT THE FBI. >> Reporter: FORMER FEDERAL. PROSECUTOR KASH PATEL NOMINATED. FOR FBI DIRECTOR. THE STAUNCH TRUMP SUPPORTER. PRESSED BY DEMOCRATS ABOUT HIS. INDEPENDENCE. >> WOULD YOU BE WILLING TO. RESIGN THE POST OF FBI DIRECTOR. IF PRESSED AND GIVEN NO CHOICE. BUT TO OBEY THE ORDER OR RESIGN?

>> I WILL ALWAYS OBEY THE LAW. >> Reporter: AND PRESIDENT. TRUMP'S PARDONS OF VIOLENT. OFFENDERS FROM JANUARY 6th. >> I DO NOT AGREE WITH THE. COMMUTATION OF ANY SENTENCE OF. ANY INDIVIDUAL WHO COMMITTED. VIOLENCE AGAINST LAW. ENFORCEMENT. >> Reporter: PATEL STRONGLY. DEFENDED BY REPUBLICANS. >> THE REASON YOU'RE HERE IS. BECAUSE MOST OF THE PUBLIC, ALMOST EVERY REPUBLICAN BELIEVES. THAT THE FBI HAS BEEN USED. CONTINUOUSLY IN A POLITICAL. FASHION, LYING TO GET DONALD. TRUMP.

>> Reporter: ACROSS THE CAPITOL, TULSI GABBARD NOMINATED FOR. DIRECTOR OF NATIONAL. INTELLIGENCE. >> WHAT TRULY UNSETTLES MY. POLITICAL OPPONENTS IS, I REFUSE. TO BE THEIR PUPPET. >> Reporter: GABBARD PUSHING. BACK OF CLAIMS SHE PARROTED. KREMLIN TALKING POINTS. >> I WANT TO MAKE CERTAIN THAT. IN NO WAY DOES RUSSIA GET A PASS. IN EITHER YOUR MIND OR HEART. >> I'M OFFENDED BY THE QUESTION, BECAUSE MY SOLE FOCUS, COMMITMENT AND RESPONSIBILITY IS. ABOUT OUR OWN NATION.

>> Reporter: PRESSED OVER HERE. PREVIOUS CALL FOR A PARDON FOR. EDWARD SNOWDEN, WHO FLED THE. U.S. AFTER RELEASING A TROVE OF. GOVERNMENT SECRETS. >> IS EDWARD SNOWDEN A TRAITOR. TO THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA? >> I UNDERSTAND HOW CRITICAL OUR. NATIONAL SECURITY --. >> APPARENTLY YOU DON'T. >> Reporter: REPUBLICANS SEEM. CONFIDENT THAT KASH PATEL WILL. WIN CONFIRMATION. THEY'RE MORE SKEPTICAL OF TULSI. GABBARD AND ROBERT F. KENNEDY.

JR., THOUGH NOT ONE REPUBLICAN. HAS SAID THEY'LL VOTE NO. LESTER. >>> IT WAS A CHAOTIC SCENE IN. GAZA TODAY AS 30 ISRAELI. HOSTAGES WERE RELEASED BY HAMAS. FIVE THAI NATIONALS WERE ALSO. FREED. PRIME MINISTER NETANYAHU. TEMPORARILY DELAYED THE RELEASE. OF 110 PALESTINIAN PRISONERS. BECAUSE OF WHAT HE CALLED. SHOCKING SCENES. PRESIDENT TRUMP'S ENVOY SAYING. HE EXPECTS HAMAS TO RELEASE AN. AMERICAN ON SATURDAY. WE'LL TAKE A BREAK AND THEN UP. NEXT I'LL HAVE A FINAL THOUGHT. ABOUT HEROISM AND ECHOES OF THE. >>> IT WAS A SHOCKING SIGHT THAT.

LIT UP THE NIGHT SKY. FOR MANY, LAST NIGHT'S HORROR. BROUGHT BACK ECHOES OF THE LAST. AIR TRAGEDY HERE MORE THAN 40. YEARS AGO ONE SNOWY JANUARY DAY. IN 1982 AIR FLORIDA TOOK OFF IN. ROUTE TO FORT LAUDERDALE, BUT. NEVER MADE IT ABOVE 350 FEET AND. SMASHED INTO THE 14th STREET. BRIDGE, FALLING INTO THE POTOMAC. BELOW. MORE THAN 70 PEOPLE DIED. THE MOMENT BROUGHT OUT THE BEST.

IN RESCUERS. THE NATION WAS GRIPPED AS CREWS. HOISTED FIVE PEOPLE TO SAFETY. FROM THE RIVER CHOKED WITH ICE. FEDERAL WORKER LENNY SKUTNIK HAD. BEEN WATCHING AND PLUNGED INTO. THE POTOMAC TO RESCUE A. PASSENGER PRICILLA TERATO, BLINDED BY JET FUMES AND UNABLE. TO HANG ON.

>> SHE WOULD HAVE DROWNED. I JUST FELT THAT I DID WHAT WAS. MY INSTINCT, I GUESS. IT'S JUST IN MY HEART. >> WE SAW AGAIN THE SPIRIT OF. AMERICAN HEROISM. >> HE WAS THE FIRST HERO TO SIT. IN THE GALLERY FOR THE STATE OF. THE UNION. EVER SINCE INVITED GUESTS ARE. KNOWN AS LENNY SKUTNIKS. NOW AS THEN, HEROS ANSWERED THE. CALL. THIS TIME FIRST RESPONDERS MET A. GRIM REALITY, THEIR BRAVERY AND. COURAGE IN THOSE ICY WATERS ON. THE POTOMAC REMAINS THE SAME. THAT'S "NIGHTLY NEWS.". I'M LESTER HOLT. THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.