The dream of civilians soaring into space as paying passengers could be on hold tonight after the deadly crash of a Virgin Galactic space plane over the california desert today. Its the second accident involving a commercial spacecraft in this country this week. One crew member is dead, another was badly injured in todays crash which occurred during a test flight over the Mojave Desert just after the craft separated from its mother aircraft. These images capture what appears to be an explosion and pieces of debris tumbling to earth. Nbcs tom costello has been covering the rapid growth of commercial space flight. He joins us now from our washington newsroom with more. Tom, good evening. Reporter hi, lester. It appears one of the pilots was able to parachute out and was injured, the other did not get out alive. They both worked for scaled composites, which built the spaceship. Tonight the ntsb is launching a team to investigate what went wrong. In mojave, california, this afternoon, disaster, the burnt and broken remains of Virgin Galactic spaceship two, the experimental craft that was supposed to take paying customers one day into low earth orbit, fell to the ground. Just a big puff. A big white puff. Immediately at that point i knew that something had went really horribly wrong. Possibly two patients. One doa. We found one person who had obviously was deceased immediately. The other was transported to the hospital. I do not have the condition. When left here it appeared to be major injuries. Reporter Todays Mission was meant to test a new Engine Design and fuel mixture. It was earlier this year when we were in mojave for another test flight. Attached to the mothership, they flew to 46,000 feet. Five, four, three, two, one. Reporter then spaceship two dropped from white knight two and fired a rocket to take it to 71,000 feet. Today, it was at the moment the rocket fired that the spaceship came apart. Former astronaut steve robinson. Rocket propulsion is still fairly new. It hasnt weve been doing it with humans involved and cargo for less than a hundred years now. And in technology thats fairly new. Reporter Virgin Galactics chief pilot is david mckay, i talked to him about the ride after his test flight in january. The sensation is of a sudden push, very powerful push in the back that goes on and on. But its very smooth. Reporter Virgin Galactic is owned by Richard Branson who has already sold more than 700 tickets to Prospective Space tourists, willing to spend 250,000 for four minutes floating in sub orbit. Among the celebrities who have already booked a ride, lady gaga, tom hanks and katy perry. I wanted to go to space, so, you know. But nasa wasnt building spaceships for ordinary people to go to space. So i came up with the name Virgin Galactic airways. Reporter tonight, Richard Branson is on his way to mojave. And Virgin Galactics plans for Space Tourism are very much in question. Nbc news has an agreement to document Virgin Galactics inaugural flight with paying passengers. This is of course the second major blow to the commercial space industry this week. Just three days ago an Orbital Sciences rocket exploded on liftoff on a resupply mission to the space station. Thankfully no one was killed, but it was a 200 million loss for that company, lester. Tom, in these two accidents a reminder theres a change in balance. Were seeing more commercial space Flight Operations along with governmentsponsored space flight. So whats the result of all this . Reporter i think its fair to say that tonight the entire commercial space industry is reeling. I mean, questions about whether theyre up to the job and the risks associated with space flight, and especially whether tourists should be headed to space, at least right now. All right. Tom costello in washington tonight. Thank you. It took seven weeks, but a suspected copkiller is finally in the hands of the police who have hunted him for so long. Tonight, a sigh of relief for the Pennsylvania Community where he lurked in the woods as a fugitive for days on end. Nbcs ron allen has our report tonight from blooming grove, pennsylvania. Reporter eric frein showed no emotion as a crowd outside his arraignment vented their anger. Police leading him away, frein formally charged with firstdegree murder and attempted murder. His hands bound with the handcuffs of state trooper bryon dixon who frein killed on september 12th hitting two troopers. Rot in hell reporter frein taken to prison in the troopers squad car. What was the real break in this case . This was not a result of a tip or sighting, this was the result of ongoing pressure put on frein by law enforcement. Reporter it ended for frein outside this airplane hangar on the grounds of a sprawling abandoned resort, some 23 miles from the barracks when a team of ten u. S. Marshalls on a routine search spotted frein. He turned towards me, saw we were in full kit with rifles, identified myself, he put his hands up. I told him to get on the ground and he got on the ground. Reporter police say the survivalist and avid war enactor had planned the attack for years, left a trail of evidence, weapons and ammunition, explosives, as many as 1,000 officers on his trail. Finally in custody looking gaunt, his face bruised, frein was taken back to the barracks where he allegedly ambushed the troopers. Did you expect it to be a violent end . I knew that was a strong possibility. Yes. In fact, that was my biggest concern. Reporter i can see some yeah, you have the Police Department there. Reporter tom vich lives next to the abandoned resort where frein was captured. Dozens of empty buildings, hundreds of acres of wilderness. Today, police were still there gathering evidence. Its creepy finding out theres somebody Walking Around here. But again, this place has been abandoned for 20, 30 years. Reporter after weeks on edge, residents of this Rural Community where frein caused so much mayhem are finally feeling relief. Kids can celebrate halloween by trickortreating, which had been canceled while frein was on the run. To be honest with you, im glad they caught him and its over with. And im happy for the families that can go on with their life now too. Reporter and some good news tonight. We understand that trooper douglass wounded in the attack is recovering. To this day police have no idea why frein allegedly carried out these attacks right here in front of the police barracks, why he was so angry with authorities. Prosecutors have said they will seek the death penalty. Lester . Ron allen tonight, thanks. It is a frigid halloween night across much of the country. 40 million living in places under a freeze watch or warning right now. And that as a big storm is on the move. A nasty rainmaker and even snow already in the upper midwest, up to eight inches in parts of wisconsin and michigan. In chicago the waves are so big on Lake Michigan they flooded lake shore drive. And thats where we find Weather Channel meteorologist jim cantore. Jim, good evening. Reporter lester, theyre calling this the worst flooding on lake shore drive since 1987. You can see why. Behind me massive waves still crashing over the seawall here. The blue lights behind me are of course lake shore. Those are northbound traffic lights you see coming obviously with the water coming up on both the northbound and southbound lanes, traffic is moving very slow and in some cases its even having to stop. This is just part of the storm that will affect everybody east of the rocky mountains. Lets talk about it here as we work our way into saturday. Mostly, again, a rainmaker down in the valleys, but in the mountains it will be snow especially for the central and southern appalachians. Sunday that cold air moves east. It will be colder in northern florida than it will be in new york city on sunday morning. And the snow forecast anywhere from six to 12 inches in the tennessee and North Carolina mountains where some spots in tennessee and North Carolina, lester, will get their first snow on halloween. When do they usually get it . Christmas day. So a bit early this year. All right. Jim cantore in a windy chicago tonight. Thanks. On the big island of hawaii that giant lava flow threatening a town has slowed. But Officials Say this doesnt mean homes are out of danger. Tonight, parts of the flow have cooled enough that its safe for our team, along with a geologist, to actually get on top of it for an upclose look. Heres nbcs hallie jackson. Reporter we are upslope of the pahoa lava flow right now. So this is all lava underneath this black crust. Even though the lava has cooled enough for us to walk on, it is incredibly hot. Remember, this is about 2,100 degrees, the molten lava underneath. Its moving at less than five yards an hour. Officials think over the next few days its going to stay moving really slowly. Locals here call this the power of pele, the goddess of volcanos. She built this island and is not done building yet. Hallie jackson, nbc news, pahoa, hawaii. In maine tonight, a nurse may come and go as she pleases after the state lost its fight to keep her in quarantine. Kaci hickox returned to the u. S. A week ago after treating ebola patients in west africa. Out of an abundance of caution, maines governor argued she should stay in her home waiting to see if she develops any symptoms. Our report tonight from nbcs stephanie gosk. Hello, everyone. Reporter kaci hickox appears at least in part relieved. Its just a good day. Reporter today, a District Court said the nurse who treated ebola patients in west africa was free to move around in public, denying a request by the state of maine she not be allowed in crowded public places. Still, the judge urged her to be sensitive to the real fear that exists even if its not entirely rational. I am sensitive. This is one of the reasons im saying, this battle isnt over. We still need to continue this discussion. We still need to continue educating ourselves. And i dont want to make anyone uncomfortable. Reporter but the court order wasnt a total victory. Hickox still has to adhere to three guidelines, daily health checks, notify Health Authorities if she travels, and immediately tell officials if any symptoms appear. Its not enough, says governor paul lepage. We dont know what we dont know about ebola. And im concerned, but he ruled. And as a governor, i took an oath to honor the rules of the court. Reporter for today the battle over ebola policy was won by a tough nurse who took a defiant stand. Theres still a hearing pending in this case scheduled for next tuesday, where the court could decide to issue a new order. But until then that state trooper that has been sitting out here for the last three days, lester, is gone. All right. Stephanie, thank you. We are hearing tonight for the first time from the american who was held for almost six months in north korea, after entering the authoritarian country on a tourist visa and getting arrested for trying to promote religion. Nbcs Kristen Welker spoke with jeffrey fowl today back home in ohio. Reporter Jeffrey Fowle knew leaving a bible in a north korea nightclub could be breaking the law, but he was willing to take the risk and never thought he would actually be detained. But in may his tour guide did just that at the pyongyang airport. Went to a back room and said is this your bible, and showed me the bible. Said yeah. I go reporter he had terrifying thoughts. This could be the end of life as i know it. Could be the end of job, family. Reporter fowle was held in a hotel, then a room in a hospitality center. I was treated fairly well. I was never physically abused. Always had enough usually too much to eat. Reporter he was escorted on a daily walk but was isolated for 23 hours a day, watching tv, mostly propaganda of kim jongun. Fowl wrote alerts to his wife and three children, now tough to read. Until i get home this is hard. Until i get home, youll have to step up and be the man of the house. Reporter fowle said he was sustained by his faith and a desire to help christians practice their religion freely. So you wanted to progelitize . Well, i wanted to do something to help the underground church. I read the stories of the persecution. Reporter then suddenly last week he was released, a u. S. Government plane carried him home to ohio and his family. Half a year without a dad is really hard to live with. And when he came back, it was it blew my mind. Reporter now fowle is praying for two Americans Still held in north korea and says he has learned a painful lesson. Knowing what i know now, i would not do it again. Reporter Kristen Welker, nbc news, lebanon, ohio. Still ahead tonight, something a lot of people thought theyd never see again, gas below 3 a gallon and headed even lower. But how low . And where is it the cheapest . And later, four legs and a whole lot of embarrassed faces. You wont believe how much americans are spending to make their dogs look like this. Good news as we head into the holidays. The average price of a gallon of gas nationwide is about to hit 3 and headed even lower. In fact, aaa says tonight 60 of the nations gas stations are charging less than three bucks a gallon already. Nbcs Anne Thompson is at one of those stations in ft. Lee, new jersey. Good evening. Reporter good evening, lester. In the month of october alone the price of a gallon of gas fell a whopping 33 cents, making pulling up to the pump a treat on this halloween. Its getting easier to fill er up. Yes, its surprising. Reporter the National Average price of gas is on the verge of falling below three bucks a gallon. Good thing to see. Gas hasnt been this cheap in a long time. Reporter not since december 2010. Gas is under 3 a gallon in 23 of the lower 48. In tennessee the statewide average is 2. 75. Go to chattanooga and its cheaper, 2. 61. Rock bottom price is at sams club on lea highway, 2. 53. Drivers across the country tweeting pictures of their local low prices. Whats driving down gas prices . Analysts point to multiple factors, starting with the price war among opec members. Price of a wholesale barrel of crude falling more than 20 since june. The bigger story is u. S. Production. Five or ten years ago the u. S. Was only producing about 6 Million Barrels of crude oil per day. Now about 9. 5 Million Barrels, much of that thanks to development in areas like north dakota reporter spending less at the pump means americans have more money to spend elsewhere. Gas buddy says motorists are saving over 100 million a day compared to a year ago. On an individual basis the amount is much smaller. Right now a gallon of gasoline costs less than a gallon of milk on average. So you definitely see a savings and that may translate into consumers spending more on other everyday items. Reporter just in time for the Holiday Shopping season. This is by no means the bottom. Gasoline analysts say the price will continue to drop. One analyst says the National Average for a gallon of gas could hit 2. 90. Lester . All right. Thanks very much, anne. Were back in a moment with a huge scare below ground. An unbelievable nearmiss. This is what happens when an entire building filled with fireworks goes up in flames. It happened overnight in stafford, england. Police say two people died in the fire, at least two others suffered injuries. The cause is now under investigation. Hundreds of passengers of the subway here in new york got a big halloween scare a day early. Yesterday morning when a giant drill being used in a construction project pierced the ceiling of the subway tunnel. And take a look, it barely missed coming down right through the top of the train. Thankfully no one was hurt, just a lot of frayed nerves and explaining to do by the contractor. The streets were filled with black and orange today in the city by the bay as thousands cheered the world series champions, the San Francisco giants. The weather got pretty nasty at times, but spirits were high. This is the third victory parade for the giants in just five years. But as one fan remarked, it never gets old. Always one of the most exciting days around these parts, halloween at today show. This year the whole gang dressed up as iconic saturday night live characters, including matt as, its pat. Savannah and meredith wearing mom jeans. Willie and tamron as the spartan cheerleade cheerleaders. And father Peter Alexander and natalie as Mary Kathrine gallagher. Hoda and kathy lee as wayne and garth. And then there were the blues brothers. Performance by al roker and a guy who looks an awful lot like me in sunglasses. Well check into it. When we come back, why humiliating our pets on this halloween is now a multimillion dollar industry. Happy halloween from pennsylvania avenue this evening where the president and first lady are welcoming about 4,500 trickortreaters this year. If youre getting ready to take the kids out in the neighborhood or putting the finishing touches on your costume, then youre one of the millions of americans spending more than 7 billion combined on halloween this year. But one of the big growing markets isnt for adults or even for children. Nbcs Janet Shamlian explains. Reporter forget your costume or how your children are dressing up. Whats your dog going to be for halloween . For many primping the family pet has become the highlight of the holiday. We want to be best in show. Reporter but that can come at a cost, sometimes a doggies dignity. The web is full of good dogs suffering public humiliation at the hands of their owners. Wave for mommy. Reporter pet costumes are biggest. How much did you spend on this production . Thousands. One thousand, two . Keep going. Reporter americans will spend 300 million just on their pets. Halloween is such a big business for the pet industry. If you wait to the last minute like i did with bella, the pickings can be pretty slim. So we are going to go with the bumblebee. What do you think . Yes . Reporter you know its love when shell put up with this. No cat would have it. What are you spending on costumes today, pictures, treats . An outrageous amount. Reporter retailers like petsmart have become smart about the holiday. At this texas store, registers are ringing for all sorts of halloweenthemed products. Hasnt this gotten a little out of control . We want that. We really do. Reporter lets be honest, pets do not want to be dressed as grapes or a hot dog or a show girl. Everybodys paying attention to him. Hes loving this. Reporter as much as we try to convince ourselves otherwise. Janet shamlian, nbc news, houston. Thats our broadcast for this friday night. Thank you for being with us. Im lester holt. Ill see you back at 8 00, 7 00 central for tonights dateline and, of course, with you all weekend as well. For all of us here at nbc news, goodnight. We have are the champions yes, they r and now three parades, San Francisco becomes the Biggest Party around, as the players celebrate and hundreds of thousands of fans line the street to get a glimpse of their heroes. Thank you for joining us. The envy of the baseball world is right here yet again. A lot of Kids Skipping School and a lot of parents skipping work with their kids and everyone else just watching on television. Just in case you missed it, giants fans celebrating the world series u up close and personal with the players, the pictures say it all. It was fun out there, the occasional downpour didnt dampen the spirits. It actually made everything a little more fun. I didnt mind getting wet. A torturous way. The big question, will the free agent stay with the giants . I love them, i play for them. It will cost the giants big money to resign panda, there were plenty of chants from the fans and the players lobbying for panda to stay with the skbri giants, as for the actual mvp, heres mad bug. Number 40, madison baumgardner. So cool to see him,
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