>>> BREAKING NEWS TONIGHT, THE BOMBSHELL TWIST IN ALEC BALDWIN'S SHOOTING TRIAL AS THE JUDGE THROWS OUT THE CASE. BALDWIN'S INVOLUNTARY MANSLAUGHTER CHARGE FROM THE FATAL 2021 SHOOTING ON THE SET OF "RUST" DISMISSED WITH PREJUDICE BY THE JUDGE. THE CO-PROSECUTOR RESIGNING AFTER THE DEFENSE ALLEGED BULLET EVIDENCE HAD BEEN WITHHELD. >>> ALSO BREAKING, THE SCARY MOMENTS ABOARD AN AMERICAN AIRLINES PLANE. FIRE BREAKING OUT DURING BOARDING. THE EMERGENCY SLIDES DEPLOYED. ALL PASSENGERS EVACUATING. MULTIPLE INJURIES REPORTED. THE SMOKE BELIEVED TO BE COMING FROM A LAPTOP IN A PASSENGER'S BAG. WHAT OFFICIALS ARE NOW SAYING. >>> PRESIDENT BIDEN BACK ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL IN BATTLEGROUND MICHIGAN AFTER HIS NEWS CONFERENCE DEFENDING HIS ABILITY TO LEAD, BUT TODAY A NEW WAVE OF DEMOCRATS CALLING ON HIM TO STEP ASIDE. ALL OF IT AHEAD OF OUR ONE-ON-ONE INTERVIEW WITH THE PRESIDENT ON MONDAY. >>> DESPERATION IN TEXAS. NEARLY 1 MILLION STILL WITHOUT POWER FIVE DAYS AFTER HURRICANE BERYL STRUCK. FRUSTRATION MOUNTING WITH THE UTILITY COMPANY. WAS IT UNPREPARED? >>> THE MASSIVE DATA BREACH, THE CALL AND TEXT RECORDS OF NEARLY ALL OF AT&T'S CELL CUSTOMERS STOLEN BY HACKERS. >>> AND THE MOMENT HE'S WAITED A LIFETIME FOR. THE HOLOCAUST SURVIVOR MEETING THE FAMILY HE NEVER KNEW HE HAD UNTIL NOW. >> Announcer: THIS IS "NBC NIGHTLY NEWS" WITH LESTER HOLT. >>> GOOD EVENING. WE BEGIN WITH BREAKING NEWS FROM NEW MEXICO WHERE JUST A SHORT TIME AGO THE CRIMINAL CASE AGAINST ALEC BALDWIN WAS DISMISSED. BALDWIN'S TRIAL ON A CHARGE OF INVOLUNTARY MANSLAUGHTER IN THE DEADLY SHOOTING ON THE "RUST" MOVIE SET COMING TO AN ABRUPT AND DRAMATIC END AFTER THE DEFENSE CLAIMED THE PROSECUTION WITHHELD EVIDENCE ABOUT AMMUNITION ON THE "RUST" SET. THE JUDGE DISMISSING THE CASE WITH PREJUDICE AFTER HOLDING A HEARING ON A MOTION BY THE DEFENSE FOR DISMISSAL. NBC'S CHLOE MELAS IS HERE. CHLOE, A STUNNING END TO THIS TRIAL. >> ALEC BALDWIN BREAKING DOWN IN TEARS AND THE JUDGE DISMISSED THE CASE AND IT CAME AFTER THE JUDGE DETERMINED PROSECUTORS WITHHELD EVIDENCE. >> THIS IS CRITICAL EVIDENCE IN THE CASE THAT WAS NEVER DISCLOSED TO US. IT'S NOT THE FIRST, SECOND OR THIRD TIME. IT'S TIME FOR THIS CASE TO BE DISMISSED, YOUR HONOR. >> Reporter: THE PIVOTAL MOMENT SEEN HERE WHEN THEY CLAIMED NEW MEXICO'S PROSECUTORS DID NOT DISCLOSE NEW EVIDENCE PERTAINING TO THE LIVE ROUNDS FOUND ON THE "RUST" FILM SET IN 2021. >> THIS IS A WILD GOOSE CHASE. THIS HAS NO EVIDENTIARY VALUE WHATSOEVER. >> I'M GOING TO RECESS YOU FOR THE DAY. I'M SORRY. >> Reporter: THE JUDGE SENDING THE JURY HOME ON FRIDAY AS SHE DECIDED WHETHER TO DISMISS THE CASE AGAINST BALDWIN. >> THE PROSECUTION GETTING THE CASE DISMISSED ONLY THREE DAYS INTO TESTIMONY IS WORSE THAN EVEN A NOT GUILTY VERDICT. >> THE STATE'S WILLFUL WITHHOLDING OF THIS INFORMATION WAS INTENTIONAL AND DELIBERATE. YOUR MOTION IS GRANTED. >> Reporter: DURING THE AFTERNOON THINGS GOT CONTENTIOUS BETWEEN THE JUDGE AND SPECIAL PROSECUTOR. HALYNA HUTCHINS WAS KILLED ON THE NEW MEXICO FILM SET AFTER A GUN BALDWIN WAS HOLDING FIRED A LIVE ROUND OF AMMUNITION. >> FIND THE DEFENDANT HANNAH GUTIERREZ-REED GUILTY. >> Reporter: IN MARCH THE ARMORER HANNAH GUTIERREZ-REED WAS FOUND GUILTY OF INVOLUNTARY MANSLAUGHTER AND CURRENTLY SERVING AN 18-MONTH PRISON SENTENCE. HER ATTORNEY SAYING THIS NEW INFORMATION IS GROUNDS TO OVERTURN HER CONVICTION. NBC NEWS REACHED OUT TO NEW MEXICO'S SPECIAL PROSECUTORS FOR COMMENT. A PLOT TWIST NO ONE SAW COMING. ALEC BALDWIN'S INVOLUNTARY MANSLAUGHTER CHARGES DISMISSED. >> CHLOE, WHAT HAPPENS NEXT? >> ALEC BALDWIN LEFT THE CAUGHT WITHOUT SAYING ANYTHING TO REPORTERS BUT JUST MOMENTS AGO SPECIAL PROSECUTOR KARI MORRISSEY DID MAKE HER FIRST COMMENTS FOLLOWING THE JUDGE'S RULING AND SAYS SHE RESPECTS THE JUDGE'S DECISION. >> ALL RIGHT, CHLOE MELAS, THANK YOU. >>> NOW TO THE CHAOS ON THE TARMAC AT SAN FRANCISCO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT. >> Reporter: TONIGHT CHAOS ON THE TARMAC AT SAN FRANCISCO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT. >> EVACUATE, EVACUATE, DON'T GET YOUR THINGS. LET'S GO. OFF THE AIRCRAFT. >> Reporter: YOU CAN SEE AND HEAR THE PANIC AS PASSENGERS ABOARD AN AMERICAN AIRLINES FLIGHT BOUND FOR MIAMI WERE FORCED TO EVACUATE AFTER A FIRE BROKE OUT IN THE CABIN WHILE THEY WERE BOARDING. >> IT'S AMERICAN 2045. WE GOT A MAYDAY, MAYDAY, MAYDAY. THERE IS A FIRE IN THE BACK OF THE AIRCRAFT. >> RIGHT HERE. >> Reporter: PASSENGER CARLOS LAZA WAS ON THE FLIGHT WHEN HE SAYS HE HEARD SOMEONE IN THE BACK OF THE PLANE SCREAM OUT ABOUT A FIRE. HE LOOKED BACK AND SAW SMOKE. >> I DIDN'T SEE ANY FLAMES. I COULD SMELL SOMETHING ELECTRICAL BURNING. PEOPLE PANICKED AND PUSHED PEOPLE TOWARD THE FRONT OF THE PLANE. >> IT FELT PRETTY SCARY. >> IT WAS. >> Reporter: EMERGENCY SLIDES WERE DEPLOYED AS PASSENGERS ESCAPED FROM BOTH THE EMERGENCY EXITS AND THE JET BRIDGE. VIDEOS FROM INSIDE SHOWING THOSE TENSE MOMENTS. >> LEAVE YOUR CARRY-ON BAGS. >> LEAVE EVERYTHING. DOWN THE SLIDE. >> Reporter: AIRPORT OFFICIALS SAY THREE PASSENGERS HAD MINOR INJURIES. ACCORDING TO AMERICAN AIRLINES, THE SMOKE CAME FROM A LAPTOP IN A PASSENGER'S BAG WRITING, THE BAG WAS QUICKLY REMOVED BY OUR CREW MEMBERS, AND ALL CUSTOMERS EXITED THE AIRCRAFT. LOOK HERE, AND YOU CAN SEE FIRST RESPONDERS INVESTIGATING A LAPTOP ON THE TARMAC. >> I'M JUST GLAD IT HAPPENED WHEN WE WERE ON GROUND. >> Reporter: A TERRIFYING CLOSE CALL THAT COULD HAVE BEEN MUCH WORSE. >> AND, LIZ, THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME A LAPTOP BATTERY HAS CAUGHT FIRE ON A PLANE. SO, WHAT HAPPENS NOW? >> Reporter: YEAH, LESTER. THAT'S RIGHT. JUST LAST YEAR A CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT TO NEWARK WAS FORCED TO MAKE AN EMERGENCY LANDING AFTER IT CAUGHT FIRE MIDAIR. AS FOR TONIGHT'S INCIDENT, THE FAA IS NOW INVESTIGATING. >> LIZ KREUTZ, THANK YOU >>> TO POLITICS NOW. NIELSEN REPORTS 25 MILLION AMERICANS TUNED IN TO WATCH PRESIDENT BIDEN'S HIGH-STAKES PRESS CONFERENCE LAST NIGHT. TONIGHT THE PRESIDENT IS BACK ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL IN MICHIGAN. GABE GUTIERREZ IS THERE. >> Reporter: TONIGHT, PRESIDENT BIDEN IN BATTLEGROUND MICHIGAN TRYING TO TURN THE PAGE AFTER DEFENDING HIS FITNESS FOR OFFICE. >> HOPEFULLY WITH A LITTLE BIT OF AGE COMES A LITTLE BIT OF WISDOM. AND I PROMISE YOU I AM -- I'M OKAY. >> Reporter: THE SWING STATE CRUCIAL FOR HIS RE-ELECTION. A NEW POLL OUT TODAY CONDUCTED BEFORE LAST NIGHT'S PRESS CONFERENCE SUGGESTS THE RACE IS UNCHANGED SINCE THE DEBATE. >> GET BEHIND THIS MAN LIKE PEOPLE ARE GETTING BEHIND TRUMP, OKAY, AND BOTTOM LINE. >> Reporter: STILL, THE DEBATE PERFORMANCE HAD SOME DEMOCRATS HERE RATTLED. >> WOULD YOU CONSIDER YOURSELF A BIDEN SUPPORTER? >> I WAS A BIDEN SUPPORTER RIGHT UP UNTIL THE DEBATE. NOW I REALLY WOULD LIKE TO SEE AN OPEN CONVENTION. >> Reporter: DEBRA LEWIS-LANGSTON SAYS SHE'D NOW PREFER TO VOTE FOR VICE PRESIDENT HARRIS. >> BIDEN BEING 81 YEARS OLD, NO FAULT OF HIS OWN, THINGS DON'T WORK THE WAY THEY USED TO WORK. I'M 71, AND I CAN TELL YOU, THEY JUST DON'T. >> Reporter: AT THAT HIGH-STAKES PRESS CONFERENCE THE PRESIDENT DREW PRIZE FOR HIS COMMAND OF FOREIGN POLICY BUT ALSO CRITICISM FOR THIS GAFFE. >> LOOK, I WOULDN'T HAVE PICKED VICE PRESIDENT TRUMP TO BE VICE PRESIDENT IF I DIDN'T THINK SHE WAS QUALIFIED TO BE PRESIDENT, LET'S START THERE. >> Reporter: AFTER FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP QUICKLY MOCKED HIS OPPONENT SWAPPING VICE PRESIDENT HARRIS' NAME FOR HIS, PRESIDENT BIDEN SHOT BACK. "BY THE WAY, YES, I KNOW THE DIFFERENCE. ONE'S A PROSECUTOR, AND THE OTHER IS A FELON." TODAY, TWO WEEKS AFTER "THE NEW YORK TIMES" EDITORIAL BOARD URGED PRESIDENT BIDEN TO LEAVE THE RACE, IT PUBLISHED ANOTHER ESSAY, THIS ONE CALLING FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP UNFIT TO LEAD WRITING, MR. TRUMP HAS SHOWN A CHARACTER UNWORTHY OF THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE PRESIDENT AND DEMONSTRATED AN UTTER LACK OF RESPECT FOR THE CONSTITUTION, THE RULE OF LAW, AND THE AMERICAN PEOPLE. THE FORMER PRESIDENT MEETING YESTERDAY AT MAR-A-LAGO WITH HUNGARY A AUTHORITARIAN PRESIDENT VIKTOR ORBAN DAYS AFTER HE MET WITH PRESIDENT PUTIN. A CONTRAST WITH PRESIDENT BIDEN WHILE HE WAS MEETING WITH OTHER WORLD LEADERS AT THE SUMMIT. FOR PRESIDENT BIDEN MICHIGAN IS ESSENTIALLY MUST WIN. HIS CAMPAIGN NOW ACKNOWLEDGING WINNING THE BLUE WALL, MICHIGAN, WISCONSIN, AND PENNSYLVANIA, IS THE CLEAREST PATH TO VICTORY IN NOVEMBER. LESTER. >> GABE GUTIERREZ ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL TONIGHT, THANKS. >>> TODAY DEMOCRATS ON CAPITOL HILL SOUGHT REASSURANCE FROM THE PRESIDENT, BUT AS RYAN NOBLES REPORTS, THE MOOD IN CONGRESS REMAINS VERY MUCH UNSETTLED. >> Reporter: NEW YORK CONGRESSMAN HAKEEM JEFFRIES, THE LEADER OF THE DEMOCRATS IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, TODAY INFORMING HIS COLLEAGUES THAT HE MET WITH PRESIDENT BIDEN FOLLOWING LAST NIGHT'S PRESS CONFERENCE AND, QUOTE, DIRECTLY EXPRESSED THE FULL BREADTH OF INSIGHT, HEARTFELT PERSPECTIVES, AND CONCLUSIONS ABOUT THE PATH FORWARD. JEFFRIES DID NOT SAY HIS CAUCUS IS ALL IN ON BIDEN AS THE PARTY'S NOMINEE. >> SHOULD WE READ INTO THAT? >> WELL, I THINK IT'S SELF-EVIDENT RIGHT NOW WITH ALMOST 20 MEMBERS HAVE COME OUT SAYING, I THINK WE NEED A DIFFERENT NOMINEE, THAT THE CAUCUS IS NOT UNITED. >> Reporter: EVEN MORE DEMOCRATIC MEMBERS HAVE NOW CALLED ON BIDEN TO END HIS CAMPAIGN DESPITE HIS WELL-RECEIVED PRESS CONFERENCE LAST NIGHT INCLUDING THE RANKING MEMBER ON THE POWERFUL HOUSE INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEE, JIM HIMES. >> I'M ASKING HIM TO STEP AWAY FROM THE LOVE AND THE LOYALTY AND JUST SAY THAT THE NUMBERS SUGGEST THAT WE'RE GOING TO LOSE. >> Reporter: DEFECTIONS FROM BIDEN GROWING, BUT AS OF YET NO MASS EXODUS. >> JOE BIDEN IS FOCUSED ON THE FUTURE OF THIS COUNTRY, AND I ALWAYS SAY, THE BEST PREDICTOR OF FUTURE PERFORMANCE IS PAST BEHAVIOR. >> Reporter: CONGRESSMAN JAMES CLYBURN OF SOUTH CAROLINA TELLING THE "TODAY" SHOW'S CRAIG MELVIN THAT HE STILL BELIEVES IN BIDEN BUT SAID IF NEED BE, VICE PRESIDENT KAMALA HARRIS IS UP TO THE JOB. >> ABSOLUTELY, NO QUESTION ABOUT THAT. SHE HAS ACQUITTED HERSELF WELL IN THE JOB AS VICE PRESIDENT. >> Reporter: THE CURRENT SITUATION IS PURGATORY FOR DEMOCRATS ON THE HILL, ONE MEMBER WORRIES, CANNOT FESTER FOR MUCH LONGER. >> I DON'T WANT TO BITE MY NAILS EVERY TIME PRESIDENT BIDEN GETS ON THE STAGE. THAT'S THE DYNAMIC AT WORK. WE NEED TO BE SHIFTING THE ATTENTION TO THE OTHER GUY. >> RYAN, WE HAVE NEW REPORTING TONIGHT THAT AT LEAST ONE HOUSE DEMOCRAT TODAY TOLD THE PRESIDENT DIRECTLY IT WAS TIME TO LEAVE THE RACE. >> Reporter: THAT'S RIGHT, LESTER, SOURCES TELL US THAT IN A CALL WITH HOUSE DEMOCRATS CONGRESSMAN MIKE LEVIN OF CALIFORNIA CONFRONTED THE PRESIDENT AND SAID THAT THE PARTY NEEDED NEW LEADERSHIP. THE PRESIDENT RESPONDED BY PROMISING TO GET OUT ON THE ROAD AND ANSWER MORE TOUGH QUESTIONS AS THE CAMPAIGN CONTINUES. LESTER. >> ALL RIGHT, RYAN NOBLES, THANK YOU. AND JOIN US MONDAY WHEN I INTERVIEW PRESIDENT BIDEN EXCLUSIVELY. THE COMPLETE CONVERSATION AIRS STARTING AT 9:00 P.M. EASTERN MONDAY. AS SAVANNAH GUTHRIE AND I LEAD OUR COVERAGE FOR THE START OF THE REPUBLICAN CONVENTION. >>> A DEADLY POWER STRUGGLE GOES ON TONIGHT IN HOUSTON WITH MORE THAN 800,000 STILL WITHOUT ELECTRICITY AFTER HURRICANE BERYL. PRISCILLA THOMPSON IS THERE FOR US. >> Reporter: TONIGHT, FRUSTRATION. >> HOW HAS THE PAST COUPLE DAYS BEEN? >> HORRIBLE. >> Reporter: AND DESPERATION. >> YOU GOT TO HOP IN LONG LINES LIKE THIS JUST TO GET ICE AND FOOD. >> Reporter: AS MORE THAN 800,000 PEOPLE SWELTERED THROUGH A FIFTH DAY WITHOUT POWER. GUY AND RUTH SAY THEY'VE TOSSED $600 IN SPOILED FOOD. >> I DON'T KNOW WHAT I'M GOING TO DO, AND I DON'T HAVE MUCH MONEY LEFT. >> Reporter: THE COUPLE SAYS THEY PAWNED THEIR WEDDING RINGS TO BUY GAS SO THEY CAN DRIVE BETWEEN LONG LINES AT FOOD DISTRIBUTION SITES AND COOLING CENTERS WITH THEIR THREE GRANDCHILDREN IN TOW. >> WE GOT TO DO WHAT WE GOT TO DO TO KEEP THE KIDS, YOU KNOW, FED AND COOL. >> Reporter: AT LEAST FOUR PEOPLE IN HOUSTON HAVE DIED FROM HEAT DUE TO POWER LOSS THIS WEEK. JONATHAN STURGIS BELIEVES IT MAY HAVE BEEN A FACTOR IN HIS 93-YEAR-OLD MOTHER'S DEATH. HER ASSISTED LIVING FACILITY WAS RUNNING ON A BACKUP GENERATOR FOR FOUR DAYS. >> BY THURSDAY MORNING I IMMEDIATELY NOTICED RIGHT AWAY THAT THE BUILDING WAS SIGNIFICANTLY HOTTER. >> Reporter: AS CENTERPOINT'S EFFORTS TO RESTORE POWER ARE HAMPERED BY MORE RAIN, QUESTIONS ABOUT THE COMPANY'S READINESS. WHISKER LABS, WHICH TRACKS POWER OUTAGES THROUGH PLUG-IN DEVICES IN HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF HOMES, FOUND BEFORE THE STORM CENTERPOINT OUTAGES WERE HAPPENING AT A RATE 2 1/2 TIMES THE NATIONAL AVERAGE. CENTERPOINT SAYS IT WAS PREPARED. >> THE REMAINING CUSTOMERS ARE GOING TO BE THE HARDEST HIT CUSTOMERS THAT HAVE TREES DOWN, THAT IT'S JUST NOT A QUICK FIX, AND WE JUST ASK FOR THEIR CONTINUED PATIENCE. >> WHAT IS YOUR MESSAGE TO CENTERPOINT RIGHT NOW? >> WHAT IN THE WORLD ARE YOU GOING TO DO FOR US? HOW ARE YOU GOING TO REIMBURSE EVERYTHING THAT WE'RE LOSING? >> Reporter: PRISCILLA THOMPSON, NBC NEWS, HOUSTON. >>> WHEN WE RETURN, HOW HACKERS STOLE PHONE AND TEXT RECORDS OF ALMOST ALL OF >>> THE FBI IS INVESTIGATING A MAJOR HACK IMPACTING NEARLY ALL OF AT&T'S WIRELESS CUSTOMERS. WHILE NO PERSONAL DATA WAS COMPROMISED, EXPERTS SAY HACKERS COULD USE WHAT THEY STOLE TO FIND OUT WHO WAS CALLING AND TEXTING WHOM. HERE'S TOM COSTELLO. >> Reporter: THE BREACH WAS MASSIVE, AFFECTING NEARLY 110 MILLION WIRELESS DEVICES. AT&T SAYS IT LEARNED IN APRIL THAT HACKERS HAD ACCESSED LOGS OF PHONE CALLS AND TEXTS BETWEEN MAY AND OCTOBER OF 2022 AND JANUARY 2nd, 2023, BUT THE FBI ADVISED AGAINST MAKING THE HACK PUBLIC DUE TO POTENTIAL RISKS TO NATIONAL SECURITY AND/OR PUBLIC SAFETY. WHILE THE CONTENT OF THE TEXTS AND PERSONAL INFORMATION WERE NOT RELEASED, CYBERSECURITY PROS SAY THE PHONE NUMBERS ALONE COULD COMPROMISE PERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS, POLICE INFORMANTS, NATIONAL SECURITY CONTACTS, JOURNALISTS, AND WHISTLE-BLOWERS USED BY CRIMINALS OR FOREIGN GOVERNMENTS. >> CONNECTING THAT PHONE NUMBER TO AN EMAIL ADDRESS, TO A USER NAME, TO A HOME ADDRESS IS NOT PARTICULARLY DIFFICULT GIVEN ALL THE BREACHES THAT WE'VE SEEN OVER THE LAST DECADE. >> Reporter: AT&T SAYS THE HACK OCCURRED ON A THIRD PARTY'S CLOUD PLATFORM, BUT THROUGH AN AT&T VULNERABILITY. ONE SUSPECT HAS ALREADY BEEN APPREHENDED. THE LATEST IN A STEADY STREAM OF HACKS AND RANSOM ATTACKS. LAST MONTH AUTO DEALERS NATIONWIDE WERE LOCKED OUT OF THE CVK BUSINESS SOFTWARE THEY USE. >> WE CAN'T CUT CHECKS. WE CAN'T SERVICE CARS. EVERYTHING HAS TO BE DONE BY HAND. >> Reporter: THE U.S. CYBERSECURITY CHIEF SAYS, WE ALL MUST DO OUR PART. >> IMPLEMENT MULTIFACTOR AUTHENTICATION. COMPLEX UNIQUE PASSWORDS AND A PASSWORD MANAGER. UPDATING YOUR SOFTWARE AND BEING ABLE TO RECOGNIZE AND REPORT THOSE PHISHING EMAILS. >> Reporter: AT&T SAYS IT DOES NOT BELIEVE THE HACKED INFORMATION IS PUBLICLY AVAILABLE YET, AND IT'S TAKEN ADDITIONAL CYBERSECURITY MEASURES TO SHORE UP ITS DEFENSES. LESTER. >> ALL RIGHT, TOM COSTELLO, THANKS. >>> WHEN WE RETURN, OUR REPORTING ON THE FRONT LINES FROM THE AMERICAN EFFORT TO GET AID INTO GAZA. WHAT THE PENTAGON IS NOW SAYING ABOUT THE FUTURE OF A TROUBLED AMERICAN PROGRAM>>> THE PENT IT WILL SHUT DOWN THE TROUBLED FLOATING PIER THAT HELPED BRING SOME AID INTO GAZA, BUT AS THE WAR THERE DRAGS ON, THE AID FLOW IS STILL FAR TOO LITTLE TOO LATE. HERE'S COURTNEY KUBE. >> Reporter: THIS IS 9-YEAR-OLD AZAM AHMED ALSHAR RUSHED TO THE HOSPITAL IN GAZA SUFFERING FROM SEVERE MALNUTRITION AND LACK OF MEDICINE, BUT IT WAS TOO LATE. DOCTORS COULDN'T SAVE HIM. IN AN EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH OUR NBC NEWS CREW IN GAZA, HIS DOCTOR SAID THERE ARE MANY CASES LIKE AZAM. THIS WEEK THE UNITED NATIONS SAID NEARLY 500,000 PEOPLE IN GAZA FACE CATASTROPHIC LEVELS OF HUNGER. THE PIER SYSTEM WAS SIDELINED BY WEATHER. LAST NIGHT, PRESIDENT BIDEN SHOWED HIS FRUSTRATION. >> I'VE BEEN DISAPPOINTED THAT SOME OF THE THINGS THAT I'VE PUT FORWARD HAVE NOT SUCCEEDED AS WELL, LIKE THE PORT WE ATTACHED FROM CYPRUS. I WAS HOPEFUL THAT WOULD BE MORE SUCCESSFUL. >> Reporter: THE PENTAGON ACKNOWLEDGING THE PIER'S LIMITATIONS BUT SAYING, TO DO NOTHING WOULD HAVE BEEN A FAILURE. >> WE CREATED A SOLUTION. WE BELIEVE IT WAS A SUCCESS. >> Reporter: THEY DELIVERED NEARLY 20 MILLION POUNDS OF AID BUT IN EIGHT WEEKS IT'S ONLY BEEN OPERATIONAL FOR 20 DAYS AT A COST OF $230 MILLION. AID DELIVERIES COULD CONTINUE FROM CYPRUS. THIS IS THE "MV CAPE TRINITY." NOW IT IS BEING LOADED WITH AID RIGHT NOW. GAZA NEEDS 600 TRUCKS EVERY DAY TO STAVE OFF WIDESPREAD HUNGER ACCORDING TO USAID, BUT IT'S THE DELIVERY THAT'S STILL A CHALLENGE. WITH TRUCKS BEING LOOTED AND ISRAELI MILITARY ACTION NEARBY, LEAVING THOUSANDS OF CIVILIANS STILL NOT GETTING THE AID THEY SO DESPERATELY NEED. THE PENTAGON HOPES TO ANCHOR THE PIER IN GAZA ONE MORE TIME BEFORE ENDING THE MISSION, BUT HIGH SEAS MAY PREVENT THAT. LESTER IS THERE ALL RIGHT, COURTNEY, THANK YOU. >> WE'LL TAKE A BREAK >>> FINALLY TONIGHT, ONE MAN'S STORY OF SURVIVAL AND THE REMARKABLE JOURNEY THAT BROUGHT HIM TO THE FAMILY HE NEVER KNEW HE HAD. HERE'S SAM BROCK. >> Reporter: AT A CROWDED CHARLESTON AIRPORT, ANN MEDDIN HELLMAN BRACES HERSELF FOR THE MOMENT SHE'S ANTICIPATED FOR MONTHS. >> HOW ARE YOU FEELING RIGHT NOW? >> I'M TRYING TO BREATHE. >> Reporter: ON THE OTHER SIDE OF A JET BRIDGE, SHALOM KORAI, FRESH OFF A FLIGHT FROM ISRAEL IS PREPARING FOR SOMETHING HE'S WAITED FOR HIS ENTIRE LIFE, FINDING FAMILY. >> WHEN I SEEN YOU, SHALOM, I WANT TO GIVE YOU THE BIGGEST HUG. >> Reporter: A MY HERITAGE DNA TEST IN 2023 INITIATED BY RESEARCHERS STUDYING THE ROUGHLY 100 CHILDREN SAVED BY LENA KUCHLER-SILBERMAN DURING WORLD WAR II INCLUDING SHALOM MATCHED THE HOLOCAUST SURVIVOR WITH HIS SECOND COUSIN FROM SOUTH CAROLINA, LEADING TO THIS MOMENT. >> DON'T CRY. >> HAPPY TEARS. HAPPY TEARS. >> Reporter: FOR 25 YEARS, ANN HAS BEEN TRYING TO COMPLETE HER FAMILY TREE THINKING ALL HER RELATIVES ON HER FATHER'S SIDE WHO REMAINED IN EUROPE DURING THE HOLOCAUST WERE KILLED UNTIL LAST YEAR WHEN THE DNA TEST REVEALED A CONNECTION TO A NAME SHE DIDN'T RECOGNIZE. >> IT WAS QUITE A SHOCK, AND WE KEPT ON LOOKING, AND I GOT A PICTURE OF HIM THAT CAME UP, AND IT WAS SEEING MY BROTHER. >> Reporter: SHALOM WAS SAVED FROM THE WARSAW GHETTO IN 1941 SMUGGLED AWAY IN A POTATO SACK AT JUST 2 YEARS OLD, HIS NAME CHANGED TO CONCEAL HIS JEWISH IDENTITY. HE WAS HIDDEN IN MULTIPLE ORPHANAGES IN POLAND AND MOVED TO FRANCE AFTER THE WAR WITH THE WOMAN WHO RESCUED HIM BEFORE ULTIMATELY FINDING REFUGE IN ISRAEL IN 1949. NOW EMBRACED BY DOZENS OF FAMILY MEMBERS HE NEVER KNEW EXISTED. >> HOW ARE YOU DOING, SHALOM? THIS IS BRADLEY. >> WE CAME ALL THE WAY FROM MONTANA TO MAKE THIS EXPERIENCE. >> Reporter: SHALOM SAYS HE NEVER EVEN KNEW THE CONCEPT OF FAMILY. >> THIS IS SOMETHING THAT I GREW UP WITH ALL MY LIFE. >> Reporter: BUT AS HE ACCEPTS THIS KIDDUSH CUP PASSED FROM GENERATION TO GENERATION, IT'S CLEAR HE CAN CERTAINLY SEE NOW THE LOVE THAT WAS WAITING FOR HIM ALL ALONG. >> I FEEL LIKE I'VE GIVEN THE CHILDREN AND SHALOM A GIFT THAT WAS NEVER EXPECTED TO HAPPEN. IT'S SOMETHING THAT HOPEFULLY THAT THEY WILL REMEMBER FOREVER. FAMILY IS EVERYTHING. >> Reporter: SAM BROCK, NBC NEWS, CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA. >>> AND THAT IS "NIGHTLY NEWS" FOR THIS FRIDAY. THANK YOU FOR WATCHING. I'M LESTER HOLT. PLEASE TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF AND EACH OTHER. GOOD NIGHT.