And the delta pilot who realized it was the one flight they could not miss. And good evening. Great to have you with us on this new years eve. Im tom llamas, in for david tonight. The countdown to new years is on across america tonight. The pictures coming in as a crowd of 1 million builds in times square. Thousands of new York City Police officers, the most ever, on high alert to keep everyone safe. And tonight, were learning of a terror arrest in new york, an alleged isis supporter accused of plotting a new years attack. But we begin with incredible images from overseas. Take a look at that. A massive high rise inferno in dubai, erupting hours before the World Famous Fireworks display. Abcs Alex Marquardt with the news coming in at this hour. Reporter a towering inferno. Tonight, one of dubais most famous Luxury Hotels consumed by flames. Yes, i can see a lot of debris coming down from the building and its getting bigger and bigger. Reporter the fire started on the 20th floor of this 63story hotel, and was visible from all around. The roar of the fire heard in video shot by eyewitnesses. It was just under three hours before dubai was to hold its famous new years fireworks show, starting nearby at the worlds tallest building. It kind of caused chaos here, some people ran, some people were screaming, not knowing what was going on. Reporter hundreds of people were evacuated from the hotel, and remarkably, fewer than 20 were injured, according to officials. Undeterred, they announced the new years celebration would go ahead, and shortly after the clock struck midnight, fireworks burst in the air. A surreal scene with the hotel still burning in the background. There has been no mention of terror, arson or any other official cause, as investigators now dig into what ignited the massive blaze. Alex marquardt, abc news, london. Incredible how that fire just took off. Okay, alex, thank you. Around the world tonight, major cities on high alert over terror concerns. Paris and brussels canceling fireworks. In germany tonight, the celebrations taking place, but an hour before, Police Warning of a possible imminent threat. People asked to avoid crowds. Two major train stations evacuated. And that breaking news here at home. Fireworks called off after a terror arrest in rochester, new york. You see him there, the suspect accused of plotting to kill on new years eve. Abcs gio benitez in times square tonight. Reporter tonight, just hours before millions ring in the new year, a terror plot thwarted. 25yearold emanuel lutchman, charged with an alleged plan to kill innocent people on new years eve in a machete attack at a restaurant in rochester, new york, all in the name of isis. Lutchman allegedly telling an fbi informant, we just got to show our allegiance. And, i will take a life. I dont have a problem with that. The government claiming lutchman went to walmart with the informant to buy materials for tonights attack. Black ski masks, zip ties, two knives, a machete, duct tape, ammonia and latex gloves. Allegedly recording a video taking responsibility for the coming massacre. The city of rochester canceling its fireworks tonight. Its the fear of that kind of plot that has triggered the Largest Police presence ever at a new years eve celebration here in times square, as more than a million revelers get ready to crowd the crossroads of the world. And Law Enforcement really beefing up security here, scanning this crowd for weapons with metal detectors, banning all backpacks and large bags. 6,000 heavily armed officers on patrol on rooftops and in the air. The nypd prepared with bombsniffing dogs, security cameras watching every move. Plan for the worst and then expect the best. And weve always had the best here in new york, every new years. Reporter the Largest Police presence ever here. Well, as i understand, thats true. Reporter officers outfitted with tens of thousands of special cell phones to share suspicious images with each other. And gio is now live from the heart of times square. And gio, besides the advanced technology, its also the sheer manpower, and not just those in uniforms. Reporter thats right, tom. The nypd has its Counterterrorism Task force out here right now. Many of them are undercover. They assure us, this will be the safest place in the world. Tom . The crowds growing by the second. All right, gio, thank you so much. Lets turn now to that deadly flooding, growing worse in the heartland. Blamed for the deaths of nearly two dozen people. The scene in downtown st. Louis. The Mississippi River expected to crest at the arch 12 feet above flood stage. Hundreds of roads, even highways under water right now. Several river levels reaching alltime highs. Abc meteorologist Indra Petersons in the flood zone tonight. Reporter tonight, floodwaters paralyzing parts of the midwest, as rivers crest and records fall, residents race to sandbag homes, hoping theyll be spared. We just need a lot of help. Reporter pets stranded where waters already rushed in, being rescued, too. This was the scene on interstate 55 overnight, before officials were finally forced to close it. Traffic backed up for miles. These photos showing how quickly the flood waters rose in valley park. We rode along with the u. S. Geological survey. They are using Doppler Radar to monitor the rising mississippi. All the rivers that feed this area, the illinois river, the upper mississippi and the missouri, are all coming to where their flood crests are right here today. And so, thats whats made this flood so large. Reporter this time of year, this stretch of the Mississippi River should be five feet deep. Tonight, its 42 feet. To put it all in perspective, theres about ten times the amount of water flowing here than you typically see flowing over niagara falls. This video shows how powerful that can be. Watch this house smash into a bridge. At least 22 deaths in missouri and illinois now being blamed on the flooding. At least four still missing, including two teenage boys in taylorville, illinois. And those search and rescue operations still under way. Indra joins us now to give us an update on the forecast. Indra . Reporter tom, take a look at all of this water. And the story does not end here. While many of you will be going home, ringing in the new year this evening, residents south along the mississippi know that all this water is headed in their direction. Around memphis, about a week from now. Two weeks from now, places like baton rouge, louisiana, could still be entering major flood stage. There is a piece of good news, though, here as we ring in the new year. No showers expected for the next week in the midwest. Just some light showers in the gulf. Some heavy lake effect snow around the lakes for new years day. That is a promising forecast. All right, indra, thank you. Now, to new developments in the case of the socalled affluenza teen. The mother of ethan couch returning to the u. S. In handcuffs. Charged today with helping her son go on the run to mexico. Hes still sitting in a mexican jail cell, fighting a return to the u. S. Accused of breaking probation for the drunk driving deaths of four people. Abcs matt gutman in los angeles tonight. Reporter after racing south of the border, the couches, now in legal limbo. Tonya couch being held in isolation in the l. A. County jail. Charged with hindering the apprehension of her 18yearold son, ethan. The socalled affluenza moms bail set at 1 million. Escorted overnight by u. S. Marshals, ignoring reporters questions. Her attorney saying shes innocent. And what she did was not anything to help herself. She did this, it appears, to protect her son. Reporter if convicted, she faces up to ten years in prison for helping her son, who continues to fight his deportation from mexico to the u. S. To face charges of parole violation. Wheres he going to go . Were going to get him at one point or another. Reporter we watched as he was taken from this Detention Center late wednesday. We believe ethan couch is in that van that just rushed out of here. Turns out, he was taken to another Detention Center in mexico city. His third city since his arrest monday in the resort town of puerto vallarta. There, the couches checked into this resort on december 19th, say investigators. Opting for this lower end apartment and a lower profile on christmas eve. Tonya even buying from this local butcher. Tonya couch is likely to be extradited from this jail in los angeles to texas sometime next week. Her son, ethan, could be stuck in that mexico city facility for weeks. Tom . Matt gutman for us tonight. Matt, thank you. And much more on the ethan couch case on a special 20 20, end of the road. Tomorrow night at 10 00 eastern. And we move on now to the criminal case against bill cosby. The comedian criminally charged for the first time with Sexual Assault after allegations made by more than 50 women. Many of his accusers relieved to see the moment they thought would never come. Abcs Mara Schiavocampo with the new legal battle involving cosbys wife. Reporter tonight, the criminal case against bill cosby playing out in the court of public opinion. After the 78yearold comedian appeared in court, facing a felony charge of aggravated indecent assault. Reopening this case was our duty. Reporter prosecutors saying cosby sexually assaulted Andrea Constand in 2004, after giving her pills and alcohol at his suburban philadelphia home. Now, cosbys attorney making the media rounds, vowing to fight what she calls an unjustified charge. I have faith in the justice system. Reporter and some of cosbys other accusers, also reacting to the criminal charge. I just started to cry. I think they were tears of relief, tears of joy and tears of validation. Reporter more than 50 women have come forward, claiming cosby sexually assaulted, drugged or raped them, which he has consistently denied. His wife of 50 years, camille, always standing by his side. Now, she may be the next one in the hot seat. Though she launched a legal battle to prevent being forced to speak about her husband in a related civil case next week, abc news has learned, late today, that request has been denied. Now, as for that criminal charge, cosby, who is reportedly worth approximately 400 million, is free on 1 million bail. He faces ten years in prison if convicted of that charge. Tom . All right, well stay on top of this. Mara, thank you so much. We turn now to new developments tonight in chicago, where outrage over Police Involved killings of blacks brought out hundreds of protesters. Chicago prosecutors called today on the fbi to join the investigations into the fatal shootings of a 19yearold man and a 55yearold grandmother. Chicago officials also bowed to media pressure today, releasing hundreds of Police Emails discussing how they should respond to demands for video that shows a white officer shooting a black teenager 16 times. Lets turn to sports now and a big day on this new years eve. Two huge showdowns. The College Football playoff semifinals. Oklahoma playing clemson in the orange bowl, Michigan State facing off against alabama in the cotton bowl. The winners go on to play for the National Championship. Two games on the Biggest Party day of the year. Sage steele from our sister network, espn, in times square, joining us right now. Now, sage, great to have you with us. The first game, the capital one orange bowl, undefeated and top ranked clemson, taking on oklahoma. Reporter began as a battle between two of the best offenses and defenses in the country. At the half, oklahoma was up by one point. Now, clemson has a chance to win its First National championship since 1981. And the late game, alabama and Michigan State. The crimson tide with the big favorites. Its a huge night for College Football, on espn. And in the meantime, clemson, sitting back, watching and waiting to see who they will face in the National Championship game in glendale, arizona, january 11th. Sage, thank you so much. And you can catch all the football action on espn. And just a reminder about another great show tonight. You can watch dick clarks new years rockin eve with Ryan Seacrest 2016 right here beginning at 8 00 eastern. There is still much more ahead on world news tonight this new years eve. The passenger plane making a uturn on the runway. The desperate family, watching their plane leave without them. How the delta pilot noticed them and realized they needed to get on his plane. And president obama behind the wheel with jerry seinfeld. The surprising comments the president made about some of the worlds top leaders. Stay with us. After a dvt blood clot. Mind when i got out of the hospital what about my family . My lil buddy . And what if this happened again . I was given warfarin in the hospital but i wondered if this was the right treatment for me. Then my doctor told me about eliquis. Eliquis treats dvt and pe blood clots and reduces the risk of them happening again. Not only does eliquis treat dvt and pe blood clots, but eliquis also had significantly less major bleeding than the standard treatment. Knowing eliquis had both. Turned around my thinking. Dont stop eliquis unless your doctor tells you to. Eliquis can cause serious and in rare cases fatal bleeding. 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New plumpify mascara from easy breezy beautiful covergirl and try new trunaked shadows and liners welc welcome back. Now, to the bold move on the tarmac. Millions of americans know the feeling. Rushing to catch a flight before it leaves the gate. Abcs Clayton Sandell on the pilot who did something almost unheard of, and with good reason. Reporter one of the most important flights of their lives, and the short family was about to miss it. I was just crying. Reporter they were traveling recently from phoenix to minneapolis. But their flight was late, and time to catch their connection to memphis ran out. The plane pushed back without them. The tower wasnt going to have them pull back in and my sisters and my mom were sitting there in tears and im sitting there screaming through the glass. Reporter thats when the captain saw the family. He radioed in and found out they were upset, because, for them, missing the flight meant missing their fathers funeral. It wouldve been sad not saying goodbye. Reporter the captain, adam cohen, then made an extraordinarily rare decision to come back. It was something we needed to do, he says. This is something well take with us, knowing we made a difference. The family says cohens gesture made all the difference. They arrived in memphis in time to say goodbye. Its very rare, someone stops and does something so kind and we need more people like them in this world. Reporter an uncommon act of common decency. Clayton sandell, abc news, denver. We thank clayton for that story. And when we come back, the Major Campaign shakeup tonight. The candidate, trying to regain his momentum. And the names and faces we remember, to close out 2015. Huh. Introducing centrum vitamints. A brand new multivitamin you enjoy like a mint. With a full spectrum of essential nutrients. Surprisingly smooth, refreshingly cool. I see you found the vitamints. New centrum vitamints. A delicious new way to get your multivitamins. 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