Biden, then suddenly, a loud bang. Tonight, the role Donald TrumpsSocial Media Platform played in alerting the fbi. The shocking assassination caught on camera in ecuador the president ial candidate leaving a Campaign Event when the fatal shots are fired. And launching into history. The civilian astr astronauts on their aweinspiring ride aboard Virgin Galactics first Space Tourism flight good evening, and welcome, everyone. The scope of the devastation and loss of life in maui from that Rampaging Wildfire is coming into horrific focus tonight. Revealing a landscape of incinerated homes, businesses, cars, and so much more before and after Satellite Images illustrate the path of destruction, as the firestorm blew through the Historic Town of lahaina. Fire still burning today, but winds have thankfully calmed. And this evening, survivors are sharing with us their harrowing stories of escape, which, for many, involved a desperate dash to the ocean with the flames at their backs tonight, President Biden declaring a major disaster on maui, intended to fasttrack help to the island, where thousands are in shelters and communications are spotty we have an expanded reporting team on the ground we begin with miguel almaguer, who made his way deep into the disaster zone. Miguel, i can imagine, it is a shocking scene to view in person. Reporter it certainly is, lester, and the damage here is extensive. It stretches block after block, and neighborhood after neighborhood that wildfire just exploded here. This is actually the area where some people ran from their homes into the ocean about a block and a half away. But tonight, far too many people did not escape the flames. As homes erupted into fireballs, the fastmoving inferno obliterated everything in its path this tropical paradise becoming a death trap for dozens who couldnt outrun the flames lets go reporter after this terrifying, heartpounding scene to evacuate, late today, authorities confirm at least 53 fatalities the seconddeadliest blaze in recent history no communication whatsoever reporter susan materas son matthew is still among the missing. Just know, your family and friends are reaching out to everybody. Your face is out there. We will find you and just know that we love you reporter matthew lived here in lahaina, the Historic Town in ruins, where nearly 300 structures were swallowed by flames and engulfed in smoke. Its all gone reporter the fire devoured homes in minutes neighbors say it jumped from house to house, and then block to block many say the flames were out before firefighters even arrived. Woke up this morning and got on our phones to pictures of our house just down to the slab reporter inside these charred homes and incinerated cars, authorities believe there may be more bodies to recover, and more heartbreak to share. Weve been pulling people out since last night, trying to save peoples lives and i feel like were not getting the help we need reporter a popular, colorful beach town, this is what lahaina looked like, and whats now left today here at the harbor, residents say more bodies are washing up along the shore. As the fire came across this area, victims say they were running as fast as the flames many jumped right into this harbor to save their lives. Once it came from this direction i decided at 7 00 p. M. , it was too much, and time to go, because i could hardly breathe reporter Patrick Sullivan lives steps from the beach, and lost it all. How do you describe the emotions that youre feeling right now . Ah well, right here, its pretty tough. But well be okay. Well make it. Reporter with maui in misery, tonight, three separate firefights are still under way. The National Guard making progress, but there remains no cause for the fires, only reassurance from the president. Anyone who has lost a loved one, whose home has been damage or destroyed, going to get h immediat reporter but for so many, help wont ease the heartbreak. Kimo kirkman lost more than just his home in the fire his fathers ashes are also gone hes just in the ground with all the other ashes. I was packing up pictures, old pictures, and i found some of e old pictures, and i said, oh, i should take a picture of it. And im so thankful i did, because this is the only thing i have now. Unbelievable destruction. And miguel, i know you have some late information about fires still burning tonight. Reporter yeah, lester, finally, some good news from lahaina. The fire in this area is basically 80 contained. Crews have made tremendous progress the reason, though, lester, is because so much of this area has burned theres simply not many more homes that can be destroyed lester and miguel, we heard some of it in your story, but from the survivors, the stories of unimaginable loss and terrifying escapes, as the fires destroyed everything in their paths. Dana griffin spoke with some of them today. Reporter as daylight exposes the scarred skeleton of a prosperous tourist town its all gone reporter the people who thrive off the land are gutted its like an apocalypse Reporter Mason jarvey has the burns to prove he barely escaped we just had the worst disaster ive ever seen. All lahaina is burnt to a crisp reporter a paradise turned overnight into an inferno. Residents forced to flee in terror we thought we were okay, but then the wind came, the gas stations blew up everything caught fire by the brush and then we just had to evacuate. Reporter some jumped into action, warning others of the rushing flames the fires on front street its time to go. Reporter thousands evacuated. This was a Home Reporter with no guarantee theyll have anything to go back to pretty much everybody i know lost everything that we have reporter many left with only their harrowing tales of survival we just barely got out. There were ashes, embers, everything flying through the air. Reporter Martha Robert and Bill Thornqvist lost it had to 15 miles to find safe is there anything from your home that youre going to miss . So, it was the feeling of security. Locking the door when i left is that silly . Youre locking out the fire its just your worl its horrendous. Reporter so now, they live in this high school gym, but today, perhaps a glimmer of hope over the Evacon Cente The Building will start with mems, a 150yearold t a famed landmark, burned, but Still Standing dana griffin, nbc news, maui. Meantime, patience is being tested at mauis airport, as thou thousands of people, mostly tourists, scramble for flights off the island Steve Patterson is there for us tonight reporter tonight, thousands of passengers are just trying to get home people are getting delayed, people are getting canceled Baggage Claim is a mess its all over the place. Reporter many still stranded in mauis kahului airport, processing the devastation they managed to escape. Its scary to see a big wildfire just kind of coming your way, and its not something ive experienced before we jumped out of the car and ran as fast as we could and got out. Reporter Amy Springsteen is headed home to oregon. She says this is whats left of her maui rental car. She, along with some others in her party, were going to dinner, when she says flames leapt onto the street. There was debris everywhere, Fire Falling Down on top of us but we got out safe. Reporter so far, more than 20,000 passengers have fled the island since the fires began. Thousands are still waiting. I think everybody feels safe that theyve gotten here to the airport, and theres food, because there was no food on the island a lot of the seats are full, a lot of people standing around, just waiting for their flights. Reporter tonight, many travelers will still call the airport home keep on line, please reporter as airlines scramble to add extra flights to get them out American Airlines even upgraded a plane headed to los angeles with extra seats on southwest and hawaiian airlines, websites showing available flights from maui to honolulu for 19 and Ed Airlines Ying ve canceled all inbound flights to the airport so empty planes can be used to get passengers back to the mainland and Steve Patterson joining me now from the airport there. Steve, what is the mood there this repor lester, i can tell x of peoe who to Escape Thi Travel Chaosd others, mainly locals, who are reflecting on a place that has stood here for generations there is a woman to my right, she doe want to on camera, but shes been sleeping in this tsa tyard for the past two nights and by the time people make it to this tsa line, theyre just happy to be getting a off this island lester Steve Patterson with that update steve, thank you the other major story tonight, Five Americans who were held hostage for years in iran finally out of prison and one step closer to coming home Andrea Mitchell has details with iranhe u. S. Made reporter ight, americans aut of tehrans notorious evin prison, and temporarily under house arrest in iran my belief is that this is the beginning of the end of their nightmare. And the nightmare that their families have exper experienced. Reporter before they can come home, iran will get 6 billion of its oil revenue for humanitarian needs eventually, the u. S. Is also expected to release several iranians from american jails. Held the longest, siamak namazi, a Business Consultant arrested in 2015. Morad tahbaz, an environmentalist, was imprisoned in 2018, and his wife not permitted to leave iran tell us about having nts there not w to getm itobviously be a niare thou reporter d shargi was also arrd in 201 his daugs told us last year the wait was agonizing, especially when a fire broke out in the prison. We thought he was dead we didnt get to speak to him for two days. Reporter moving the 6 billion for irans use could take weeks. Washington post journalist jason rezaian, jailed in tehran for almost two years, knows what theyre feeling. That kind of first taste of freedom, your shoulders start to loosen up just a little bit but they dont fully relax until youre out of iranian airspace. Reporter a source floor says separate talks could lead to an informal deal to freeze Irans Nuclear program, which u. S. Officials say is only weeks away from having enough fuel for a Weapon LesterAndrea Mitchell, thank you. Theres new video this evening of the deadly confrontation between fbi agents and a utah man who would allegedly threaten to kill President BidenPeter Alexander has that Story Reporter this video was taken during the deadly confrontation. Fbi agents seen surrounding the home of suspect craig robertson, whos not visible in the footage, when suddenly the s. W. A. T. Team went through his back door with a battering ram. They called for my neighbor to come out, and hes like, im not coming out, [ bleeeep ]. Repororter the f fbi had arriveved at robertsons pro sew, utah, home wednesday morning to serve an Arrest Warrant for his alleged threats to assassinate President Biden. Court records show a social Media Company first alerted the fbi in march about a disturbing post by robertson. Tonight, a senior Law Enforcement official tells nbc news that company is truth social, the site founded by former president trump. The fbi says robertson identified himself online as a maga trumper, and called one of his rifles a democrat eradicator. The fbi says, for months, it had been tracking the 75yearold and his violent threats about the president , Vice President kamala harris, and othe prominent democrats, including manhattan d. A. Alvin bragg, who is prosecuting a criminal case against mr. Trump. In a recent post, robertson noted that biden is coming to utah, and referred to cleaning the dust off his sniper rifle the biden in Salt Lake City today, where he praised his and his familys Security Detail my daughter has secret service, and, you know, its just wonderful. Reporter late tonight, a senior Law Enforcement official tells me robertson was armed when fbi agents confronted him that he pointed his weapon at them and did not respond to commands before agents shot and killed him lester peter, thank you. In 60 seconds, the terrifying airplane plunge, nosediving 1,500 feet within seconds. Was the crew to blame . Plus, the stunning assassination caught on video what h happened whwhen one man went u up against t the drugug cartels startrted. Its. The sidede hug. Startrted. Twtween mileststones like e s may starart at age 9 9. Hphpv vaccinatation a a tye of Cancecer PreventitionAgaiainst Certaiain hpvrelald cancers,s, can startrt then. Fofor most, hphpv clears on i its own. But t for othersrs, it can c e certain n Cancers Lalater in li. Youre welcomeme now, a as the dad cabb, youre welcomeme its my cucue to helpp prprotect themem. Emembrace thisis phase. Helplp protect t them in thehe. Its my cucue to helpp prprotect themem. Ask ththeir doctoror today about t hpv vaccinination. Its my cucue to helpp prprotect themem. I its ththe most wononderl time o of the yearar i its ththe most wononderl time o of the yearar nonondrowsy c claritin knococks out symymptoms i its ththe most wononderl time o of the yearar from o over 200 alallergens. I its ththe most wononderl time o of the Yearar Wiwithout Knococking you o o. Feel thehe clarity and d make Todayay The E most wondederful timee ofof the year. R. Live c claritin clclear. The ntsb cited crew failure today as the probable cause of a Terrifying Plunge by a United Airlines jet last december. The plane had just taken off from maui for San Francisco when it descended from 2,100 feet to just 748 feet above the pacific before rececovering. The ntsb blamed a miscomommunicationon about the pilots desired flap setting during the initial climb. Well turn now to that shocking moment caught on camera in ecuador. A president ial candidate killed by an assassins bullet at a Campaign Event, as escalating Gang Violencece grips the country. Richchard engel now with the disturbing Video Repeporter president ial candidate Fernrnando Villavicencio was surrounded by bodyguarards leaving a Campaign Event in ecuadors capitatal. As he was getting g into a truck [ [ gunshots ] you u can hear the gunfire. E. He was shot in the head and killed, just two weeks before the election the lawmaker and former journalist was running on a pledge to root out corruption and Organized Crime now terrorizing the streets. The president says assassined tossed a grenad they esca at least six people are under Arrest Drugnce is skyrting in ecuador, With S Fighting Over Routes and Turf Villavicencio promised to clean house. These are some of his last words at his final Campaign Event what we need to do is to lock up the thiefs, he said villavicencio had said he had been repeatedly threatened by drug cartels tonight, ecuadors president has declared a state of emergency Lester Richard engel tonight, thank you. And coming up, our exclusive reporting. How china is allegedly threatening people beyond its borders, in an effort to cover up human rights abuses. With my pspsoriatic arthrititis symptomsms. But just o ok isnt okok. And i was s done settltling. If you stitill have sysymptos after a a tnf Blockeker Likeke humira oror enbrel, rinvoq is dififferent andnd may hel. Rinvoq is s a oncedaiaily pil that c can Dramatitically Relie Rara and psa s symptoms, Includuding Fatigugue for som. It can s stop joint t damage. And inin psa, can n leave skinin clear or almosost clear. Rinvnvoq can lowower your ababy to fightht infectionons, including g tb. 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Reporter hassan was arrested by moroccan authorities, wanted by china under an interpol red notice, which interpol confirms has since been dropped hes a member of the mostly Muslim Uighur minority from china. The Chinese Government accused by the u. S. Of committing genocide against uighurs. While in exile, hassan campaigned against that treatment china calls that terrorism, and wants him extradited he says hes innocent, and now, his wife and three children live in fear you must miss them i miss very, very much my family i have picture of my family, i can not see this picture if i see this picture, i am very upset, im crying for myself. Reporter tonight, a new report obtained exclusively by nbc news documents disturbing efforts by china to allegedly target exiled uighurs. We have your father and sister, youll never see them again if you dont collaborate with us, the report says one anonymous victim was told the report by safeguard defenders, a nonprofit Human Rights Group highly critical of the Chinese Government, describes cases like this man living in turkey, who says his family was forced to call him from china and urged him not to speak up on human rights when you got that phone call, did you believe that they were speaking i know that the phone call belong to the china Political Department reporter the Chinese Embassy in washington tells nbc news, china is ruled by law. It cant be accused of torture, persecution, or arbitrary detention against uighurs. Its not about human rights, ethnicity or religion, but about fighting violence, terrorism, and separatism. Meanwhile, a u. N. Ap peel is delaying hassas extradition to china. For now. Lester keir simmons, thank you. Up next, we talk with the civilian passengers after they got the ride of a lifetime to the edge of space, and made history in the process. The first inkling that something was wrong was i started to notice ththat i couldnt do Thihings Wiwithout losing my breath. I couldndnt make Itit Througugh the airprport, anand every lilike 20 or 3 30 s i had d to sit dowown and d get my brereath. Everery physicalal Exertionn Seemeded to exhausust me. And fifinally, i went to O The Hospitital where e i was diagnosed d with afib. B. Whenen i first n noticed symym, whicich kept comoming and gog, i shshould have e gone toto the doctotor and totold them what wasas happeningng. Instead, i i tried toto let it papass. If You Expxperience irregulalar heartbeaeat, heart t racing, chchest pain, shortntness of brereath, fatig, oror lightheaeadedness, you u should talalk to youour doctor. 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Finally, its the trip of a lifetime for three Space Fanatics aboard Virgin Galactics first Space Tourism flight Gadi Schwartz with the civilian astronauts who have just made history. Three, two, one release, release, release. Reporter this is the moment woohoo reporter it all changed for these newly minted Space Voyagersordinary people. Were in the vertical, head not test pilots or trained astronauts, but ordinary people. Were in the vertical, headed towards space. Reporter they rocketed at three times the Speed Of Sound to an altitude of more than 50 miles, and then, zero g. Zero gravity felt like nothingness. It was the most peacefulul, serene moment evever, where everythingng just stopped reporter natives of antigua, Keisha Schahaff and her 18yearold daughter ana are not onirst mothe and daughter do re space, theyre also the first female astronauts froe caribbean. What do you hope little girls back on the island seeing this happen feel after seeing what you guys went through . I hope th like its okay to dream. Its okay to have these Craz Dreamsnd the reporter and the heros welcome for john goodwin from his wife of 52 years the e former british olympian who is battling parkinsons disease, bought his ticket back in 2005, waiting nearly two decades for this view. Even at 80 years of age, w parkinsons, i can do it reporter a 60minflight that for T Trail Blazing Life it was so beautiful. Just breathtaking. And i just felt this total cotion its something so deep within yourself, like, that feeling that you have in your heart when you just know that you love someone or something so truly reporter muchneeded perspective from a spaceship called unity. Gadi schwartz, nbc news, new mexico and thats what i call a family road trip thats nightly news for this thursday. Thanks for watching, everyone im lester holt. Please take care of yourself and each other. Good night a mad scramble to get out of maui. We are getting a clearer picture now of just how much is gone. The death toll is rising but we do know there are some Amazing Stories of survival. Weve jumped out of the car and ran as fast as we could and got out. How can you help the people there in hawaii . We have answers. Here at Home Will Driverless Taxies get the okay to expand