Good evening and thank you for joining us. David is off tonight. Im cecilia vega. We begin with that terrifying flight in the middle of the pacific ocean. One of the most remote spots on the planet. The pilot making an Emergency Landing on an island so small, itsinhabited by birds. The passengers walking away from the plane in the dark when it finally touched down. Then, waiting hours until another plane could come to their rescue. Abcs brandi hitt has the latest on the drama in the air. Reporter its one of the worst places you can imagine for a midair emergency. I looked at my wife, i said, i love you, and i kissed her. And we told each other goodbye. Because we thought we were going to die. Reporter the boeing 777 was traveling from hawaii to guam thursday, when 2 1 2 hours into the flight, the plane was forced to turn around. Because the crew and passengers say a strange burning smell took over the cabin. There was smoke in the back of the plane, smoke in the cockpit. Reporter passengers were terrified. And some even prayed as the plane suddenly dropped. Everybody got pretty excited in their seats because we all lifted off our seats. Reporter thats when passengers said the captain announced they were losing power and the radar was malfunctioning. So, the aircraft turned around towards hawaii. The pilots, concerned the plane was unable to make it back to hawaii, decided to land the plane at midway. This tiny Remote Island and the site of an historic World War Ii Naval battle. Now barely inhabited. It was just a very scary moment. To kind of feel like, this might be the moment that the plane goes down. Fire is the worst thing that can happen on an airplane. This crew was obviously thinking, we need to get this jet down. We think we have it under control. But they took no chances and did the right thing. Reporter united describes the incident as a mechanical issue, but isnt providing further details. Passengers were taken into this gymnasium at an Old Military Base until a replacement plane arrived and then returned them to hawaii. That pilot is to be commended. He saved our lives. Reporter as the investigation continues, many of the passengers say the flight was first delayed because of a burning smell, but the plane was then cleared to leave. United says all the passengers have safely made it to their destination. Brandi, thank you. To houston tonight and the teenager who was the only survivor of a deadly attack on her familys home is speaking out for the first time. And were also hearing more from her grandparents, whose lives she is credited with saving. Abcs Mara Schiavocampo has the story. Reporter flashing a brave smile, 15yearold cassidy stay was greeted by hundreds of friends and neighbors after surviving the unthinkable. Im really thankful for all of the people that have been praying for me and keeping me and my family in their thoughts. Reporter 33yearold ron haskell faces capital murder charges, accused of fatally shooting cassidys parents and four siblings, allegedly because they wouldnt tell him where to find his exwife, cassidys aunt. Officials say the teen survived by playing dead, and is hailed as a hero for quickly alerting police haskell was allegedly heading to her grandparents house next, likely saving their lives. Today, we have to grateful to god to have cassidy back with us. We continue to be in awe how she was able to save us. Reporter the houston teen was released from the hospital in Good Condition friday, but her healing is just beginning. I know that my mom, dad, brian, emily, becca and zach are in a much better place and ill be able to see them again one day. Reporter the celebration of life was held just blocks from the familys home. Hundreds of balloons were released skyward in memory of the stay family. Thank you all for coming and showing your support for me and my family. Stay strong. Reporter cassidy is getting a lot of support from her community. Many today wore ribbons in her favorite color, turquoise, and more than 4,000 people have donated money to help cover the familys expenses. Remarkably brave young woman. She sure is. Mara, thank you. And now we go overseas to the middle east, where missiled filled the air for a fifth straight day. After dark, palestinian rockets rained down on tel aviv, but all of them were deflected by israels defenses. And on the ground, israeli tanks have been on the move, gathering at the gaza border, also raising the possibility of a ground war. We have Team Coverage tonight, and begin with abcs Alex Marquardt in gaza. Alex . Reporter good evening, cecilia. This conflict escalated significantly tonight, with hamas bombarding tel aviv with the most rockets yet. Israel responding by pummeling the gaza strip, sending the death toll even higher. The night skies over tel aviv filled with hamas rockets. Ten fired in all, they said, but in the end, they were unable to pierce israels iron dome antimissile shield. It comes after five days of relentless palestinian rocket fire. More than 1,200 israeli air strikes on gaza. The unyielding bombardment has hundreds of palestinian families with foreign passports, including around 300 americans, now packing up to escape. We met this man, who lived in houston for eight years, and came back to have kids in gaza. Its really very, very terrifying, actually. I feel we barely sleep. You know, the night, you know, the bombing here. Reporter tomorrow, israel will start letting them and around 800 others leave gaza. Theyll head to egypt first, and then maybe back to the states. But israel wont let most gazans leave. And now a growing number have no homes. These women in shock and clearly extremely distraught. They just got back and saw the shape that their house is in after the israeli strike. They escaped with their lives. Unlike their neighbors, in a center for the disabled, where a missile came through the roof, killing two mentally handicapped women. No one can believe that they can destroy society like this. Reporter anger soaring here over the death toll that tonight passed 140. So many of them civilians. Israel accuses hamas of hiding behind the innocent and storing weapons in their homes. And with the rocket fire not letting up, more and more israeli troops are gathering along the border with gaza, just waiting for the order to launch a Ground Invasion. For the first time, israel tonight told People Living in northern gaza to leave their homes. A sign a Ground Invasion could be on the way. Cecilia . Alex marquardt in gaza tonight. Alex, thank you. And abc chief Global Affairs correspondent Martha Raddatz has been traveling around the region and joins me tonight from jerusalem. Martha, you were out at that border in gaza today. What are you seeing on the ground . Reporter we were up on a hill today, cecilia, in a town that has been hit numerous times by rockets from gaza. Its just a few miles away from gaza. But today, standing up on a hillside with a lot of residents of that town, we saw a barrage of air strikes from the israelis into gaza, one after another. It was truly relentless. And the residents were almost like they were watching a sporting event. Wow, and you also spent some time with the israeli army. How close, everyone is wondering, are they to crossing that border . Reporter well, we were with an israeli unit, very nearby an israeli unit of tanks. We saw dozens and dozens of tanks, everywhere along that border with gaza. They are certainly ready, they are waiting for an order, but we really dont know whether that order will come to launch any kind of Ground Invasion. The israeli officials dont really want to do that, but if some rockets hit tel aviv, if you lose lives in a big way in israel, all things could change. That really would be a gamechanger. Cecilia . Tensions still growing there tonight. Martha raddatz on the front lines. Thank you very much. And you can see more of marthas reporting tomorrow morning on this week with george stephanopoulos. Also overseas, in africa tonight, a new push on behalf of those nigerian girls abducted from their school back in april. That help coming from the girl we know as malala. Famously joining the movement to bring back our girls. Tonight, malala is in nigeria, and thats where we find abcs amy robach. Amy . Reporter good evening, cecilia. Just a short while ago, malala arrived to a big welcome here. Today is her 17th birthday, and instead of a typical teenager celebration, malala flew 14 hours to africa with one birthday wish. To help bring home the more than 200 nigerian girls that remain missing, abducted nearly three months ago. While shes here, malala is scheduled to meet with several of the young women who escaped from boka haram, the nigerian terrorist group many have compared to the taliban. As well as several family members who are still anxiously waiting word on their daughters whereabouts. Malala told me why this trip was so important to make on her birthday. You traveled so long. It is your 17th birthday. Tell me why it was so important for you to be here. Well, it is my 17th birthday, and last year when i celebrated it, it was in the u. N. , but this year, i thought it would be good that i go to nigeria, where girls are suffering and they need someone to raise up their voice. And they love education. And i need to support them. Reporter on monday, malala hopes to meet with the nigerian president , goodluck jonathan, for the very latest on rescue efforts. I will sit down exclusively with malala to talk more about the increasingly desperate situation of those missing young women. She wants to put the spotlight back on those who she calls her sisters, who still need the worlds help to bring them home. Cecilia . An important message. Amy robach, thank you. We are looking forward to your report, monday on good morning america. And we return back here now to the west, where crews are fighting wildfires in several states, and battling the heat, as well. In northern california, an army of firefighters is battling a raging fire that is threatening dozens of homes. And in washington state, just look at that smoke. 34 square miles of grass and brush are burning between seattle and spokane. Meteorologist bill kelly from our columbus station, wsyx is here with the latest. Its really hot out there. Were talking about heat advisories in places we typically dont. From you goeugene all the way u seattle. All temperatures out west, 10 to 20 degrees above normal. Possibility for lightningsparked fires, as well. Have to keep an eye on that. Speaking of lightning, Severe Weather threat today from eastern nebraska all the way over to parts of indiana and michigan, including chicago and up into northern parts of minnesota. Strong winds, large hail, not out of the question to see a tornado. Theyre not used to that kind of heat in seattle. But youre going to tell me, people neat coats elsewhere around the country soon . Its crazy. A typical july day in the midwest. But give it just a few days. Watch this. This cool air working on in. Were going to see temperatures into the 50s in places like marquette, 67 in chicago. Thats where they should be in the beginning of october, so, many people going out on the lakes, probably going to need a light jacket by tuesday next week. Okay, get out the jacket. Meteorologist bill kelly, thank you. And now to cleveland, where the forecast is for more celebrations, after nba great lebron james announced hes returning home. One sign of the enthusiasm . A ticket to the cavaliers Season Opener used to go for 40 bucks. Tonight, as much as 600. Abcs linzie janis is in cleveland with more on the big turnaround. Reporter redemption tonight for lebron james. Lbj lbj reporter cleveland fans welcoming home with open arms the player they once vilified. King james sending the city into a frenzy. After announcing his return to the cavs in an emotional online letter about how much his home means to him. And making fans forgive the way he crushed them four years ago when he announced his move to miami on live television. Im going to take my talents to south beach. We love you. We forgive you. And lets get some money in this town. Reporter and the money began flowing immediately. Call it the new lebronomy. Within eight hours, the cavaliers receiving out of season tickets. We go from selling something thats unsellable, i mean, i cant get my hands on enough tickets to sell. Reporter once dubbed the mistake by the lake, the city of cleveland lost 50 million a season while lebron was gone. Local businesses here are now hoping for a reversal of fortune. Downtown cleveland really thrives on our sports teams. It means that its going to financially impact everything down here. Reporter and a newfound pride that comes from being home to the greatest basketball player on earth. Tonight, this working class city has the one thing that glamorous miami doesnt. And with the return of the king, they couldnt be happier. Cecilia . Okay, linzie. Lebronomy. Thank you. And we have much more ahead on world news this saturday night. Up next, a growing hazard in the ocean this summer. Why swimming rescues off the coast of l. A. Are up so dramatically. And, look up. The super moon tonight. Why our nearest celestial neighbor is looking a whole lot brighter in the night skies this weekend. So this board gives me rates on progressive direct and other Car Insurance companies . 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Watch out reporter this frantic scene on the Southern California coast, a swimmer unable to climb out of the churning water, is becoming far too common. Hold on, hold on. Since july 1st, we had 50 rescues in this particular area. Thats only a half mile stretch of coastline. Reporter 50 rescues . 50 rescues. Reporter across l. A. County, coastal rescues are up 300 over last year. The problem . Warm, hot weather means a lot more swimmers in the water. Plus, teenagers are sharing videos like these on social media, luring others to some of the most treacherous hidden coves along the coast. The scenery couldnt be prettier and the waters an inviting 75 degrees. But a wave like that churns like a washing machine. And if you do happen to get caught in the spin cycle, paradise can suddenly become lethal. You can get physically injured and you can also, you know, get taken under by the water. Reporter just this past week, a swimmer drowned here. Lifeguards still havent recovered the body. So, they are warning everyone. To try and avoid more scenes like this. David wright, abc news, palos verdes, california. Still ahead tonight on world news, remembering a rock and roll legend. 202024 hours to go i wanna be sedated the man behind punk rock. I wanna be sedated the man behind punk rock. Our instant index is up next. R rheumatologist about a biologic. This is humira. This is humira helping to relieve my pain and protect my joints from further damage. Doctors have been prescribing humira for ten years. Humira works by targeting and helping to block a specific source of inflammation that contributes to ra symptoms. Its proven to help relieve pain and stop further joint damage in many adults. Humira can lower your ability to fight infections, including tuberculosis. Serious, sometimes fatal infections and cancers, including lymphoma, have happened, as have blood, liver, and nervous system problems, serious allergic reactions, and new or worsening heart failure. 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Time now for our instant index, starting with the man who breathed life into punk rock. 202024 hours to go i wanna be sedated that sound, tommy ramone, the founding drummer and the last original surviving member of the ramones has died of cancer. Their debut album hit gold just this april, 38 years after its release, 12 years after their induction into the rock and roll hall of fame. Tommy ramone was 65 years old. And to an amazing sky show tonight. High above the earth, the moon, much closer to us than usual because of its elliptical orbit. Its called a super moon, appearing 14 bigger and 30 brighter than usual. Its the first of three super moons well see this summer. Tonight, august 10th and september 9th. Mark your calendars. And when we come back