>>> TONIGHT, THE SUSPECT IN THAT MASSIVE INTELLIGENCE LEAK OUT OF OBSCURITY AND IN COURT. THE 21-YEAR-OLD NATIONAL GUARDSMAN IN FRONT OF A JUDGE CHARGED WITH SHARING TOP SECRET DOCUMENTS. NEW SCENES OF POLICE CLOSING IN ON HIM. DID HE KNOW INVESTIGATORS WERE ON HIS TRAIL? THE PRESIDENT ORDERING SENSITIVE INTELLIGENCE SECURED. HOW VULNERABLE ARE AMERICA'S TOP SECRETS? >>> THE SUPREME COURT PUTTING A TEMPORARY HOLD ON A LOWER COURT RULING THAT WOULD LIMIT ACCESS TO AN ABORTION PILL KEEPING IT WIDELY AVAILABLE FOR NOW. >>> IN THE FLOOD ZONE MUCH OF FORT LAUDERDALE STILL UNDERWATER AFTER HISTORIC STORMS WHILE OTHER PARTS OF THE COUNTRY SWELTER. WHEN WILL IT END? >>> EL CHAPO'S SONS CHARGED IN A MASSIVE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE FENTANYL CRACKDOWN ON MEXICAN CARTELS. >>> THE SUSPECT IN THE MURDER OF TECH EXEC BOB LEE IN COURT. NEW EVIDENCE ON WHAT HAPPENED THE NIGHT OF HIS KILLING. LEE STABBED IN THE HEART AND THE CONNECTION TO THE SUSPECT'S SISTER. >>> TRAVEL RUSH. HOW TO NAVIGATE THE BUSIEST SUMMER TRAVEL SEASON IN YEARS WITH FEWER FLIGHTS AND MUCH HIGHER FARES. >>> AND LEGENDARY COMPOSER ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER, OUR CONVERSATION AHEAD OF THE CURTAIN CALL FOR BROADWAY'S LONGEST RUNNING SHOW. ♪♪ >> Announcer: THIS IS "NBC NIGHTLY NEWS" WITH LESTER HOLT. >>> GOOD EVENING, AND WELCOME ON THIS FRIDAY. WE BEGIN TONIGHT WITH THE SCENE IN A MASSACHUSETTS FEDERAL COURTHOUSE WHERE A YOUNG NATIONAL GUARD AIRMAN MADE HIS FIRST APPEARANCE SINCE HIS DRAMATIC ARREST YESTERDAY IN CONNECTION WITH THE LEAK OF U.S. CLASSIFIED INTELLIGENCE FILES. 21-YEAR-OLD JACK TEIXEIRA WITH MEMBERS OF HIS FAMILY IN THE COURTROOM AS THE GOVERNMENT PREVIEWED SOME OF THE EVIDENCE AGAINST HIM. TEIXEIRA, WHO HAD A TOP SECRET SECURITY CLEARANCE, FACES CHARGES UNDER THE ESPIONAGE ACT RELATED TO THE UNAUTHORIZED RETENTION AND TRANSMISSION OF NATIONAL DEFENSE INFORMATION. AUTHORITIES BELIEVE TEIXEIRA SHARED THE MATERIALS, MANY RELATED TO THE WAR IN UKRAINE, WITH AN ONLINE COMMUNITY OF FRIENDS. ANDREA MITCHELL STARTS US OFF NOW WITH LATE DETAILS. >> Reporter: JACK TEIXEIRA, THE MASSACHUSETTS AIR NATIONAL GUARDSMAN IN COURT, THE ALLEGED SOURCE OF THAT MASSIVE INTELLIGENCE LEAK FACING MULTIPLE CHARGES UNDER THE ESPIONAGE ACT OF POSSESSING AND SHARING CLASSIFIED DOCUMENTS. HIS FAMILY THERE FOR SUPPORT. HIS FATHER HEARD SAYING, I LOVE YOU, JACK. HE REPLYING, I LOVE YOU TOO AS HE STOOD ACCUSED OF ONE OF THE LARGEST LEAKS OF TOP SECRETS IN YEARS. A DAY AFTER HE WAS ON HIS BACK PORCH WHEN AN FBI TACTICAL SQUAD SURROUNDED HIS HOME ORDERING THE GUN ENTHUSIAST OUT WITH HIS HANDS UP ACCELERATING THE ARREST AFTER MEDIA REPORTS NAMED HIM. INVESTIGATORS SAY HE STARTED SHARING CLASSIFIED INFORMATION WITH ONLINE MALE FRIENDS, MANY OF THEM TEENAGERS, IN A PRIVATE CHAT GROUP HE NAMED THUG SHAKER CENTRAL ON DISCORD AS EARLY AS DECEMBER 2022 BECOMING CONCERNED HE MIGHT BE DISCOVERED TRANSCRIBING DOCUMENTS AT WORK, HE STARTED TAKING THEM HOME TO PHOTOGRAPH AND BEGAN POSTING THEM IN JANUARY. ARIC TOLER WAS THE FIRST TO PUBLICLY IDENTIFY TEIXEIRA. WAS HE TRYING TO SHOW OFF TO THESE YOUNGER GUYS, ESPECIALLY THE TEENAGERS? >> YEAH, I MEAN I THINK THAT'S PROBABLY THE MOTIVATION. YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU HEAR HOT GOSSIP ABOUT YOUR FRIENDS OR SOMEONE YOU KNOW, IT'S LIKE -- IT'S BURNING INSIDE OF YOU. YOU WANT TO TELL SOMEONE AS FAST AS YOU CAN. EVERYBODY HAD THAT HAPPEN TO HIM EXCEPT HIS WAS CLASSIFIED DOCUMENTS. >> Reporter: MEMBERS SAY TEIXEIRA WAS NOT A WHISTLE-BLOWER, DID NOT INTEND FOR THE SECRETS TO GO BEYOND THEIR SMALL GROUP FROM A DEEPLY PATRIOTIC RELIGIOUS FAMILY. NEIGHBORS WERE SHOCKED. >> I HEARD THE NAME, AND I WAS LIKE, YOU KIDDING ME? I KNOW THIS GUY. >> GOOD KID. HAD A GOOD HEAD ON HIS SHOULDERS. >> JUST THE FACT THAT HE WOULD EVEN HAVE ACCESS TO IT SURPRISES ME. >> ANDREA, WHEN DID TEIXEIRA SUSPECT AUTHORITIES WERE ON TO HIM? >> Reporter: ONE OF HIS FRIENDS TOLD "THE WASHINGTON POST" HE BECAME FRANTIC IN APRIL, ON APRIL 5th WHEN ONE OF HIS DOCUMENTS APPEARED ON TWITTER. THE NEXT DAY HE WENT ON A CLASSIFIED NETWORK TO SEARCH FOR THE WORD "LEAK" TO SEE IF INVESTIGATORS WERE ON TO HIM. THEY WERE. >> ANDREA MITCHELL, THANK YOU. A LOT OF QUESTIONS ABOUT ALL THIS. HOW DID A 21-YEAR-OLD ALLEGEDLY HAVE ACCESS TO SO MUCH TOP SECRET INFORMATION AND WHY DO THESE KEEP HAPPENING? HERE'S TOM COSTELLO. >> Reporter: HE'S JUST THE LATEST 20-SOMETHING ACCUSED OF LEAKING TOP SECRET INFORMATION. 23-YEAR-OLD CHELSEA MANNING PROVIDED 700,000 DOCUMENTS TO WIKILEAKS. 29-YEAR-OLD EDWARD SNOWDEN FLED TO RUSSIA AFTER DISCLOSING U.S. SECRETS. JACK TEIXEIRA'S JOB AS A JOURNEYMAN, AN I.T. WORKER WITH ACCESS TO SECRET SYSTEMS REQUIRED HE WAS AT LEAST 17, HOLD A DRIVER'S LICENSE AND UNDERGO 18 MONTHS OF TRAINING. RETIRED FOUR-STAR GENERAL BARRY McCAFFREY. >> NO QUESTION HE SHOULDN'T HAVE HAD EVEN REMOTE ACCESS TO THAT KIND OF INFORMATION, NOR SHOULD THE AIR NATIONAL GUARD. I MEAN, AT THE END OF THE DAY IT'S A COMPROMISE. >> Reporter: BUT VETERAN INTELLIGENCE EXPERTS SAY 1.3 MILLION AMERICANS HAVE ACCESS TO TOP SECRET INFORMATION FROM MILITARY AND GOVERNMENT WORKERS TO OUTSIDE CONTRACTORS, AND THE MILITARY HAS ALWAYS RELIED ON TWENTYSOMETHINGS. >> THE VERY YOUNGEST MEMBERS OF THE SERVICE THAT HAVE THE SKILL SETS AND TALENTS IN CYBER AND I.T. TO BECOME ADMINISTRATORS OF THEIR ASSISTANCE. >> Reporter: AND IN THE POST 9/11 INTELLIGENCE-SHARING WORLD, A MUCH BIGGER GROUP HAS SECURITY CLEARANCE. >> EVERY TIME WE INCREASE THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE ACCESS TO HIGHLY SENSITIVE INFORMATION, WE'RE CREATING A VULNERABILITY. WE NEED TO SHRINK DOWN THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE ACCESS TO THINGS THAT THEY DON'T NEED TO KNOW. >> Reporter: THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION DETERMINED TO SET AN EXAMPLE. >> WE INTEND TO SEND THAT MESSAGE, HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO OUR NATIONAL SECURITY. >> Reporter: NEED TO KNOW IS BASED ON PATRIOTISM, TRUST AND THREAT OF PROSECUTION THAT YOU'LL NEVER DISCLOSE NATIONAL SECRETS FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE OR FACE POSSIBLE PRISON TIME, LESTER. >> ALL RIGHT, TOM COSTELLO, THANKS. >>> A LATE AND DRAMATIC DEVELOPMENT IN THE BATTLE OVER THAT ABORTION PILL LATE TODAY. THE SUPREME COURT STEPPING IN AND PUTTING A TEMPORARY HOLD ON A LOWER COURT RULING THAT WOULD LIMIT ACCESS. LAURA JARRETT HAS DETAILS FOR US. >> Reporter: TONIGHT, THE U.S. SUPREME COURT MOVING QUICKLY TO BLOCK A FEDERAL JUDGE FROM ROLLING BACK ACCESS TO THE ABORTION PILL MIFEPRISTONE, AT LEAST FOR NOW. JUSTICE SAMUEL ALITO HANDING DOWN AN ORDER WITHIN HOURS OF THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT'S EMERGENCY APPEAL THAT HAD WARNED OF CHAOS AND PROFOUND DISRUPTION IF THE HIGH COURT DIDN'T STEP IN. AT ISSUE IN THE CASE, A LEGAL MORASS OF COMPLEX FDA REGULATIONS OVER THE DRUG THAT HAD RECENTLY BEEN MADE EASIER TO OBTAIN. >> THEY ATTACKED MEDICATION THAT FOR 20 YEARS THE FDA RULED AS BEING SAFE. >> Reporter: BUT THE ADVOCACY GROUP AND DOCTORS THAT SUED TO BAN THE DRUG CLAIMED THE FDA IGNORED SAFETY RISKS. THOSE PLAINTIFFS HAVE UNTIL TUESDAY TO SUBMIT THEIR LEGAL ARGUMENTS TO THE JUSTICES. AT THE SAME TIME ACCESS TO ABORTION NOW LARGELY CUT OFF THROUGHOUT MUCH OF THE SOUTH. [ CROWD CHANTING ] AFTER THE SUPREME COURT OVERTURNED ROE VERSUS WADE, MANY WOMEN TRAVELED TO FLORIDA FOR ABORTIONS. >> SHOW THE BILL PASSES. >> Reporter: NOW THE STATE HAS BANNED ANYONE FROM SEEKING AN ABORTION AFTER SIX WEEKS OF PREGNANCY, THOUGH THE LAW WON'T GO INTO EFFECT RIGHT AWAY. >> YOU JUST DON'T WANT WOMEN TO HAVE CHOICE. >> HERE WE VALUE LIFE FROM CONCEPTION TO THE CASKET. >> Reporter: GOVERNOR RON DeSANTIS SIGNING THE BILL WITH A PRIVATE GATHERING OVERNIGHT, A FAR CRY FROM THE JUBILANT CELEBRATION HE PUT ON FOR A 15-WEEK BAN PASSED LAST SPRING HIGHLIGHTING A RISING TENSION WITHIN THE GOP ON THE ISSUE. AS SOME ARE MINDFUL OF THE PUBLIC POLLING LARGELY FAVORING ABORTION, OTHER PRESIDENTIAL HOPEFULS ARE LEANING INTO THEIR CONSERVATIVE BASE WITH EYES ON 2024 INCLUDING SENATOR TIM SCOTT WHO SPOKE EXCLUSIVELY TO NBC'S ALI VITALI. >> IF I WERE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, I WOULD LITERALLY SIGN THE MOST CONSERVATIVE PRO-LIFE LEGISLATION THAT THEY CAN GET THROUGH CONGRESS. >> Reporter: BUT FOR NOW THE ISSUE RESTS WITH THE SUPREME COURT WITH THE JUSTICES POISED TO RULE NEXT WEEK. LAURA JARRETT, NBC NEWS.STS WITH THE SUPREME COURT WITH THE JUSTICES POISED TO RULE NEXT WEEK LAURA JARRETT, NBC NEWS >>> WE'RE GOING TO TURN NOW TO THAT HISTORIC FLOOD EMERGENCY IN SOUTHEAST FLORIDA SWAMPED BY MORE THAN TWO FEET OF RAIN WITH MANY STILL UNDERWATER TONIGHT SAM BROCK IS IN FORT LAUDERDALE SAM, WHAT'S THE SITUATION THERE RIGHT NOW? >> Reporter: LESTER, GOOD EVENING THE SCENE HERE RIGHT NOW IS THERE'S STILL FLOODED NEIGHBORHOODS HERE THIS AS FIRE OFFICIALS RESCUED OR SAVED MORE THAN A THOUSAND PEOPLE SO FAR AS OPERATIONS, LESTER, ARE STILL ONGOING. AFTER LIFE-ALTERING LEVELS OF RAINFALL, FORT LAUDERDALE STREETS ARE STILL FILLED WITH PARENTS TREADING THROUGH WATER AND CLUTCHING LOVED ONES CLOSELY >> I BEEN HERE 22 YEARS, AND IT WAS THE FIRST TIME I SEE THIS HAPPEN >> Reporter: THE CITY COUNTED MORE THAN 1,100 PEOPLE WHO CALLED FOR HELP. >> THIS IS A DISASTER AKIN TO A HURRICANE STRIKE. >> I WAS SCARED FOR THE FAMILY AND EVERYTHING ELSE. >> Reporter: LUIS ALVAREZ SAYS THE TORRENTIAL TURN OF EVENTS RUINED TWO CARS AND TRAPPED HIM INSIDE HIS HOUSE FOR TWO DAYS >> WATER CAME UP THE FIRST STEP, SECOND STEP, THIRD STEP AND IT KEPT GOING HALFWAY. >> Reporter: SIGNS OF DISTRESS EVERYWHERE. WE ARE A DAY AND A HALF REMOVED NOW FROM THE MAIN EVENT IN FORT LAUDERDALE THERE ARE STILL PEOPLE WADING THROUGH WATER IN THE STREETS THAT'S HOW BAD IT IS THE HISTORIC LEVEL OF RAIN, 26 INCHES IN 7 HOURS LEFT CARS LITTERED ACROSS THE CITY AND SHUT DOWN THE AIRPORT SINCE WEDNESDAY UNTIL FINALLY RE-OPENING THIS MORNING ELSEWHERE, A RECORD HEAT WAVE SWEEPING ACROSS THE NATION, 113 MILLION PEOPLE EXPERIENCING TEMPERATURES 15 DEGREES ABOVE AVERAGE. NEW YORK EVEN HITTING 90 DEGREES FOR A SECOND DAY IN A ROW. THOUGH INCOMING SHOWERS SHOULD PROVIDE RELIEF WHILE IN FLORIDA RELIEF CAME IN A DIFFERENT FORM STEVEN FINNEGAN VISITING FROM IRELAND WITH HIS WIFE AND 2-YEAR-OLD SON WAS TRAPPED IN RUSHING WATERS THEN RESCUED BY RANDOM STRANGERS >> THANKFUL FOR GOOD PEOPLE IT MAKES YOU QUESTION YOUR OWN KINDNESS. >> Reporter: LIVES SAVED BY A FLOOD OF COMPASSION SAM BROCK, NBC SAM BROCK, NBC NEWS, FORT LAUDERDALE. >>> THE DOJ ANNOUNCING A MAJOR CRACKDOWN TARGETING FOUR SONS OF IMPRISONED MEXICAN DRUG LORD EL CHAPO AND TWO DOZEN MEXICAN CARTEL LEADERS. THE SONS CHARGED FOR MANUFACTURING AND MOVING MASSIVE AMOUNTS OF FENTANYL IN AND OUT OF THE U.S. THE ATTORNEY GENERAL DESCRIBED BRUTAL CARTEL TORTURE TACTICS INCLUDING FEEDING LIVE VICTIMS TO TIGERS. >>> NOW TO AN NBC NEWS INVESTIGATION INTO ALLEGATIONS OF WIDESPREAD SEXUAL AND PHYSICAL ABUSE THROUGHOUT THE LOS ANGELES COUNTY JUVENILE DETENTION SYSTEM. HERE'S ERIN McLAUGHLIN. AND WE HAVE TO WARN YOU, THE DETAILS IN THIS STORY ARE DISTURBING. >> Reporter: AT JUST 16, THIS MAN WHO ASKED US TO WITHHOLD HIS IDENTITY, WAS BOOKED INTO THE BARRY J. NIDORFF JUVENILE HALL IN L.A. COUNTY. NOW 26 HE TELLS NBC NEWS THE SEXUAL ABUSE STARTED WITHIN DAYS OF ENTERING THE SYSTEM. >> I JUST WENT BACK TO MY ROOM AND I CRIED, AND I WAS JUST LIKE, IS THIS THE STUFF THAT I'M GOING TO GO THROUGH? >> Reporter: HE'S 1 OF MORE THAN 400 FORMER JUVENILE DETAINEES NOW SUING THE COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES ALLEGING SEXUAL AND PHYSICAL ABUSE AT THE HANDS OF PROBATION STAFF. THE ALLEGATIONS SPANNING 50 YEARS. >> I HAD TO HOLD THIS IN FOR SO LONG, SO LONG. I HAVE NIGHTMARES ABOUT THESE INCIDENTS. I WAKE UP IN COLD SWEATS. >> Reporter: HE SAYS HE WAS GROOMED AND SEXUALLY ASSAULTED BY THE SAME SUPERVISOR DURING A SERIES OF DETENTIONS UNTIL HE AGED OUT OF THE SYSTEM. SO WHEN YOU WENT BACK TO THAT FACILITY, THIS HAPPENED AGAIN? >> AND AGAIN AND AGAIN. >> Reporter: HE SAYS THE ABUSE INCLUDED FOUR INSTANCES OF RAPE AND THAT HE TRIED TO FILE A GRIEVANCE, BUT THAT SAME MALE SUPERVISOR TOLD HIM, NO ONE WOULD EVER FIND OUT. HE TOLD YOU THAT? >> OUT OF HIS MOUTH, YOUR GRIEVANCES WILL NEVER MAKE IT TO THE FRONT OFFICE. THERE'S NOBODY HERE TO HELP YOU. >> HOW DOES THAT MAKE YOU FEEL? >> REAL HOPELESS LIKE I HAD TO ENDURE WHAT HE DID TO ME. I HAD NO CHOICE BUT TO TAKE IT. >> Reporter: FOR YEARS CALIFORNIA STATE AND FEDERAL INVESTIGATORS HAVE DOCUMENTED SERIOUS ISSUES ACROSS THE SYSTEM. A 2019 L.A. COUNTY REPORT UNCOVERED ALLEGATIONS OF SEXUAL MISCONDUCT AGAINST A PROBATION OFFICER AND HAVE NOT TAKEN ACTIONS ON THOSE COMMENTS. TONIGHT THE DEPARTMENT OF PROBATION DECLINED TO COMMENT ON PENDING LITIGATION BUT EDDIE CHISHOLM, FIRST VICE PRESIDENT OF THE OFFICERS UNION, DENIES CLAIMS OF ABUSE. IS THERE SEXUAL ABUSE INSIDE THE L.A. COUNTY JUVENILE DETENTION CENTER? >> NO. >> NO? >> I KNOW THAT THE DEPARTMENT DOES ITS DUE DILIGENCE. THEY HAVE A UNIT. ANY ALLEGATIONS OF MISCONDUCT THAT'S MADE BY A CLIENT IS THOROUGHLY INVESTIGATED. >> Reporter: IN A STATEMENT THE L.A. COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, WHICH OVERSEES PROBATION, SAID, WE HAVE ZERO TOLERANCE FOR VIOLENCE OF ANY KIND INCLUDING SEXUAL ASSAULTS ADDING WE ARE HOLDING THE PROBATION DEPARTMENT AND OURSELVES ACCOUNTABLE FOR IMPROVING CONDITIONS. >> ANYBODY WHO'S BEEN ABUSED, DON'T BE AFRAID TO SPEAK UP ABOUT IT, BECAUSE SOONER OR LATER SOMEBODY IS GOING TO LISTEN. SOMEBODY IS GOING TO HEAR US. WE'RE GOING TO GET WHAT WE DESERVE. >> Reporter: WITH AT LEAST 84 LAWSUITS ALLEGING SEXUAL ABUSE FILED SO FAR, TONIGHT L.A. COUNTY SOURCES TELL NBC NEWS THE POTENTIAL LIABILITY IS IN THE BILLIONS. LESTER. >> ALL RIGHT, ERIN, THANK YOU. >>> IN 60 SECONDS, NEW EST REVEALED IN THE MURDER OF TECH EXECUTIVE BOB LEE, THE >>> THE SUSPECT IN THE RIGHT AFTER THIS. >>> THE SUSPECT IN THE BRUTAL MURDER OF CASH APP FOUNDER BOB LEE WAS IN COURT FOR THE FIRST TIME TODAY AND NOW NEW COURT DOCUMENTS ALLEGE THE MEN WERE ARGUING ABOUT THE SUSPECT'S SISTER. MIGUEL ALMAGUER HAS THE LATEST. >> Reporter: INSIDE A SAN FRANCISCO COURTROOM TODAY MURDER SAFARI NIMA MOMENI ORDERED HELD WITHOUT BOND AS NEW COURT DOCUMENTS TIE THE I.T. CONSULTANT TO TECH TITAN BOB LEE THE NIGHT OF HIS MURDER. POLICE SAY CAMERAS AT MILLENNIUM TOWER SHOW BOTH LEAVING THE LUXURY HIGH-RISE IN A BMW LIKE THIS DRIVING TO A DARK AND SECLUDED AREA AFTER 2:00 A.M. AFTER STANDING ON THE SIDEWALK, THE SUBJECT APPEARS TO MOVE SUDDENLY TOWARD THE OTHER SUBJECT. LEE STAGGERS AWAY. THE BMW LEAVES AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED. >> WE ARE TRYING TO PIECE TOGETHER MOMENTS IN TIME ACROSS MANY, MANY HOURS OF THAT NIGHT. ANY EVIDENCE THAT SHOWS MR. LEE, MR. MOMENI APART OR TOGETHER ARE RELEVANT. >> Reporter: STABBED THREE TIMES INCLUDING IN THE HEART VIDEO SHOWS LEE TRYING TO FLAG DOWN HELP. POLICE SAY THE EVIDENCE POINTS TO A CONFRONTATION OVER THE SUSPECT'S SISTER, KHAZAR MOMENI, WHO CAME TO COURT WITH HER HUSBAND. SHE LIVES AT THE MILLENNIUM WHERE LEE SPENT AN HOUR AND A HALF THE NIGHT OF HIS MURDER. >> THERE WAS A CONVERSATION BETWEEN MR. LEE AND MR. MOMENI REGARDING MR. MOMENI'S SISTER AND SOME CONCERNS, IT SOUNDS LIKE. >> Reporter: TONIGHT POLICE NOW HAVE A BLOOD-SPATTERED KITCHEN KNIFE. THE SUSPECT'S ATTORNEY SAYS THE FACTS WILL COME OUT. MIGUEL ALMAGUER, NBC NEWS, SAN FRANCISCO. >>> STILL AHEAD WITH THE STING OF RISING PRICES, SUMMER FLIGHTS ARE FILLING UP FAST. >>> IF YOU'RE BOOKING SUMMER TRAVEL, FLIGHTS ARE FILLING UP FAST, AND IT'S GOING TO COST YOU MORE TOO. GABE GUTIERREZ HAS WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW TO GET THE BEST DEALS. >> Reporter: AFTER A CHAOTIC SUMMER LAST YEAR, THE AIRLINE INDUSTRY IS BRACING FOR AN EVEN BUSIER 2023. >> WE'RE IN THE EXPERIENCE ECONOMY, AND PEOPLE WANT TO GET THEIR EXPERIENCES BACK. >> Reporter: DELTA'S CEO NOW PREDICTING A RECORD SUMMER TRAVEL SEASON. THE AIRLINES INTERNATIONAL FLIGHTS ARE ALREADY 75% BOOKED. HOPPER.COM REPORTS DOMESTIC SUMMER AIRFARES WILL BE 18% MORE EXPENSIVE THAN 2019. SUMMER TICKET PRICES NOW AVERAGING $328 ROUND TRIP IN THE U.S. $518 IF YOU'RE GOING TO MEXICO. $1,100 TO EUROPE. UP 30% FROM 2019, BUT THAT IS NOT DETERRING TRAVELERS. THE LATEST TSA FIGURES SHOW DAILY PASSENGER SCREENINGS ARE WELL AHEAD OF LAST YEAR AND IN SOME CASES NOW SURPASSING PREPANDEMIC LEVELS. >> TRAVELING THIS SUMMER, JAMAICA, GOT THAT PLANNED ALREADY. >> A LITTLE TRICKY TO GET A CHEAPER FLIGHT. WE'RE TALKING A LOT MORE THAN YOU NORMALLY SPEND. >> Reporter: IF YOU WAITED THIS LONG TO BOOK, WHAT ARE YOUR OPTIONS? >> DON'T OVERTHINK IT. MAYBE GET A BUNDLED TRIP WHERE YOUR AIRFARE AND YOUR HOTEL COME TOGETHER. YOU CAN SAVE HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS. >> Reporter: EXPERT SAY THE MOST EXPENSIVE TIME TO FLY IS THE FIRST WEEK OF JULY. BY AUGUST YOU CAN SAVE AN AVERAGE OF $125 OFF YOUR AIRFARE. THE TOP U.S. DESTINATIONS THIS SUMMER, NEW YORK CITY, VEGAS AND ORLANDO. OVERSEAS, LONDON, PARIS AND TOKYO. CHOOSE OFF THE BEATEN PATH TO GET A BETTER DEAL. GABE GUTIERREZ, NBC NEWS, NEW YORK. >>> UP NEXT FOR US HERE TONIGHT, "PHANTOM'S" FINAL CURTAIN CALL. >>> FINALLY, ONE OF THE HOTTEST TICKETS ON BROADWAY HAPPENS TO BE THE LONGEST RUNNING SHOW EVER ON BROADWAY, THAT'S BECAUSE AFTER 35 YEARS, TIME HAS RUN OUT TO SAY GOOD-BYE TO "THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA" LEAVING MIXED EXPLOSIONS TO THE MAN WHO COMPOSED IT, THE LEGENDARY ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER. SHE'S INSTANTLY RECOGNIZABLE CHORDS HAVE OPENED NEARLY 14,000 BROADWAY PERFORMANCES, THE WORK OF LEGENDARY COMPOSER ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER. >> I JUST LOVE MUSICAL THEATER, AND I DON'T THINK YOU'D EVER FIND ANYTHING AS THEATRICAL AS "PHANTOM." >> Reporter: THIS WEEKEND "THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA" WILL TAKE ITS FINAL BOW ON BROADWAY. AFTER OPENING IN 1988, IT BECAME A WORLDWIDE SENSATION PERFORMED IN 186 CITIES ACROSS THE GLOBE. WERE YOU ABLE TO RECOGNIZE AT THE TIME WHAT A HIT "PHANTOM" WOULD BECOME? >> WHEN YOU SIT DOWN TO WRITE A MUSICAL, YOU DON'T SAY, I'M GOING TO TRY AND WRITE A MASSIVE BLOCKBUSTER. WHAT YOU DO IS YOU WRITE WHAT YOU WANT TO WRITE. I WAS REALLY KEEN TO WRITE A HIGH ROMANCE JUST TO SEE IF I COULD. >> Reporter: "PHANTOM" TELLS THE STORY OF A MASKED FIGURE WHO TERRORIZES A PARIS OPERA HOUSE WHILE FALLING IN LOVE WITH ONE OF ITS SINGERS. ON BROADWAY THE SHOW WELCOMED MORE THAN 20 MILLION PEOPLE AND GROSSED MORE THAN $1 BILLION. THERE WERE 300 CUSTOM-MADE "PHANTOM" MASKS MADE, MORE THAN 67,000 MILES OF PLAYBILL PAGES PRINTED AND MORE THAN 100 MILLION CONDUCTOR BATON BEATS. >> THEY PROBABLY COST ABOUT 950 TO A MILLION DOLLARS A WEEK TO RUN. >> A WEEK? >> A WEEK. >> Reporter: THOSE COSTS AND DWINDLING TICKET SALES CONTRIBUTED TO THE CLOSING. IRONICALLY AFTER IT WAS ANNOUNCED, SALES IMMEDIATELY SPIKED. >> I THINK THAT IT'S BEEN DISCOVERED THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA, AND A WHOLE NEW AUDIENCE HAS COME TO IT. >> Reporter: AT 75 WEBBER IS BUSIER THAN EVER. HE'S WRITTEN A NEW PIECE FOR KING CHARLES' UPCOMING CORONATION. >> IT'S THE MOMENT AFTER BOTH HAVE BEEN CROWNED, AND I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THE KING WAS VERY, VERY KEEN TO TRY AND MAKE IS THE OCCASION JOYFUL. >> Reporter: ON SUNDAY WEBBER WILL BE IN THE AUDIENCE FOR "PHANTOM'S" CURTAIN CALL. ARE YOU GOING TO BE EMOTIONAL ON SUNDAY? >> WELL, I INTEND TO JUST BE CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT THE PHANTOM IS GOING TO THINK ABOUT THIS. BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, THE PHANTOM DOESN'T LIKE HIS LEGEND NOT TO BE HOLD. >> DOES THAT SUGGEST THAT MAYBE IT WILL COME BACK TO BROADWAY? >> WELL, I DON'T KNOW. I'M ONLY THE COMPOSER WHO DOES WHAT THE PHANTOM TELLS ME TO DO. ONE THING I DO KNOW, HE IS VERY, VERY FOND OF NEW YORK. >> AND NEW YORK WILL MISS THE PHANTOM. THAT'S "NIGHTLY NEWS" FOR THIS FRIDAY. THANK YOU FOR WATCHING, EVERYONE. I'M LESTER HOLT. PLEASE TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF AND EACH OTHER. GOOD NIGHT. ♪ AWAY FROM THE GARISH LIGHT OF DAY ♪