>>> TONIGHT, THE REAL LIFE HOLLYWOOD DRAMA AS A CRIPPLING STRIKE BEGINS THOUSANDS OF WRITERS TAKE TO THE STREETS, HALTING PRODUCTION ON TOP MOVIES AND TV SHOWS. AT THE HEART OF IT, PAY OVER STREAMING SHOWS. THE IMPACT ON WHAT YOU WATCH. >>> THE APOCALYPTIC SCENES ON THAT HIGHWAY WHER A DUST STORM CAUSED MORE THAN 70 VEHICLES TO CRASH, KILLING SEVEN PEOPLE WHY AUTHORITIES HAVE JUST ORDERED THE HIGHWAY CLOSED AGAIN >>> A WEDDING TRAGEDY. THE BRIDE KILLED, THE GROOM AND OTHERS BADLY HURT, RIDING IN A GOLF CART HIT BY A SUSPECTED DRUNK DRIVER >>> THE SURGEON GENERAL'S NEW WARNING ABOUT AN EPIDEMIC OF LONELINESS, AS BAD FOR YOU AS SMOKING CIGARETTES, AND WHAT CAN BE DONE. >>> MEDICAL EMERGENCIES IN THE AIR. ONE PASSENGER'S CLOSE CALL WHAT EXPERTS ARE URGENTLY SAYING IS NEEDED TO SAVE LIVES ♪ >> Announcer: THIS IS "NBC NIGHTLY NEWS" WITH LESTER HOLT >> GOOD EVENING FROM LOS ANGELES, WHERE PICKET LINES WENT UP TODAY IN FRONT OF MAJOR FILM STUDIOS THE PEOPLE WHO WRITE THE PLOTS THAT ENTHRALL AND ENTERTAIN MILLIONS OF AMERICAN TV AND FILM WATCHERS SIDELINED TONIGHT BY A WRITERS STRIKE 11,000 WRITERS OFF THE JOB AFTER TALKS WITH PRODUCERS REACHED AN IMPASSE OVERNIGHT. AT THE ROOT OF THE DISPUTE, SOME OF THE VERY THINGS THAT HAVE TRANSFORMED HOW ALL OF US WATCH OUR FAVORITE SHOWS. THINK STREAMING. THE IMPACT OF EMERGING TECHNOLOGY THINK VIRTUAL REALITY. TONIGHT THE WRITERS AND PRODUCTION COMPANIES, INCLUDING OUR PARENT COMPANY NBCUNIVERSAL, APPEAR TO BE FAR APART, VIRTUALLY GUARANTEEING RERUNS WILL BE COMING TO SCREENS AS PRODUCTIONS GRIND TO A HALT FOR SOME SHOWS, THE IMPACT WILL BE FELT IMMEDIATELY. MIGUEL ALMAGUER HAS THE LATEST >> WHAT DO WE WANT >> A FAIR CONTRACT >> Reporter: OFF THE JOB AND ON TO THE PICKET LINE FROM COAST-TO-COAST TONIGHT MORE THAN 11,000 WRITERS ARE PLOTTING THEIR NEXT MOVE AFTER NEGOTIATORS WITH THE WRITERS GUILD OF AMERICA AND THE ALLIANCE OF MOTION PICTURE AND TELEVISION PRODUCERS FAILED TO INK A LAST-MINUTE DEAL. >> WE WOULD LIKE TO NOT WORK FOR FREE. >> ALL WE WANT IS TO BE ABLE TO SUPPORT OUR FAMILIES >> Reporter: SHUTTING DOWN SOME PRODUCTIONS IMMEDIATELY. >> I LOVE YOU! >> Reporter: TONIGHT'S NETWORK LATE NIGHT TALK SHOWS AND "SNL" SAY THEY'LL AIR RERUNS DAYTIME TV WILL LIKELY FOLLOW AND IF THE STRIKE STRETCHES, THERE COULD BE AN IMPACT ON FALL SHOWS, EVEN FUTURE BLOCKBUSTERS >> I DON'T WANT TO BE OUT OF A JOB IN FIVE TO TEN YEARS. >> Reporter: WRITERS LIKE CARRIE DRAKE SAY THEIR PROFESSIONS ARE AT STAKE FOR WEEKS THE UNION HAS BEEN BATTLING FOR STREAMING RESIDUALS, HIGHER PAY FOR SERVICES, AND JOB PROTECTION, INCLUDING FROM AI AND WRITING PROGRAMS LIKE CHATGPT. >> I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO HAVE HUMANS TELLING STORIES ABOUT OUR HUMAN EXPERIENCE AND NOT HAVING STORIES GENERATED BY ALGORITHMS >> Reporter: AFTER A WRITER STRIKE 15 YEARS AGO, THIS IS NOT UNSCRIPTED TERRITORY BUT WITH THE PROLIFERATION OF STREAMING, THE WGA SAYS GIANTS LIKE NBCUNIVERSAL, THE PARENT COMPANY OF NBC NEWS, PARAMOUNT, NETFLIX, AMAZON, AND APPLE ARE CREATING UNTENABLE WORK CONDITIONS THEY HAVE CLOSED THE DOOR ON THEIR LABOR FORCE. THE AMPTP SAYS ITS OFFER INCLUDED GENEROUS INCREASES IN COMPENSATION FOR WRITERS. >> THAT IS NOT A SERIOUS NEGOTIATION. THAT'S A JOKE. AND THAT'S PART OF THE REASON WE'RE GOING ON STRIKE. >> Reporter: TONIGHT A HIGH STAKES HOLLYWOOD SAGA THAT IS STILL BEING WRITTEN. >> MIGUEL, AFTER NEGOTIATIONS BROKE DOWN OVERNIGHT, WHERE DO THINGS STAND RIGHT NOW? >> Reporter: WELL, LESTER, SO FAR THERE HAS BEEN NO RETURN TO THE NEGOTIATING TABLE, THOUGH BOTH PARTIES SAY THEY WANT TO WORK OUT A DEAL THE WRITERS HERE TELL ME THEY'RE WORRIED THE STRIKE WILL LAST MONTHS, AND THEY SAY THEY'RE WILLING TO STRIKE FOR MONTHS, EVEN IF IT IMPACTS THE FALL SEASON. LESTER >> MIGUEL ALMAGUER STARTING US OFF IN LOS ANGELES, THANK YOU >>> WE ARE FOLLOWING BREAKING NEWS RIGHT NOW. LET'S GET THE LATEST. >> Reporter: GOOD EVENING. AWAITING WORD FROM FEDERAL, STATE AND LOCAL AUTHORITIES OF THE END OF A MASSIVE 250-PERSON DRONE, DOG, MULTICOUNTY AND AGENCY EFFORT TO FIND AN ALLEGED MURDERER HE WAS ASKED TO STOP FIRING THE RIFRL IN THE YARD THE THOUGHTS ORIGINALLY THAT HE MIGHT NOT HAVE JUST EXPANDED FROM THE COUNTY BUT TO A DIFFERENT COUNTRY BUT HE WAS AFRIENDED IN TEXAS, 13 MILES FROM THE HOME AND LEARNING MORE ABOUT THE SUSPECT. NBC NEWS REPORTING THIS EVENING THAT BACK IN 2022 HIS WIFE FILED A PROTECT I HAVE ORDER CLAIMING THAT HE WAS DRUNK AND ABUSIVE AND KICKED AND BEATEN HER. HE'S SOMEONE ACCORDING TOIZE DEPORTED FOUR TIMES FROM THE COUNTRY AND BEGS THE QUESTION IF THEY HEARD ABOUT THIS WHY DIDN'T THEY EXPLORE? WE ARE AWAITING ANSWERS. LESTER >>> NOW TO THAT CATASTROPHE ON A HIGHWAY IN ILLINOIS ONE DAY AFTER A BLINDING DUST STORM LED TO CRASHES THAT KILLED SEVEN PEOPLE, THE HIGHWAY WAS ORDERED CLOSED AGAIN TODAY. JESSE KIRSCH HAS LATE DETAILS. >> THIS IS LIKE 30, 40 CARS. >> DUDE, THAT'S MORE >> LOOK AT THAT CAR SIDEWAYS. >> Reporter: AFTER THAT CATASTROPHIC DUST STORM ENGULFED THIS STRETCH OF ILLINOIS HIGHWAY, TONIGHT AUTHORITIES WARNING DRIVERS THAT TRAVELING THE SAME AREA WILL AGAIN BE DANGEROUS AND POSSIBLY LIFE-THREATENING THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ALERT COMING AS THE POLICE ASKED THE PUBLIC FOR HEL IDENTIFYING TWO OF THE SIX PEOPLE KILLED IN MONDAY'S FIERY CRASH. >> DUE TO THE SEVERITY OF THE CRASH AND THE FIRE WE ARE REQUIRED TO ACTIVATE OUR CRIME SCENE SERVICES AND TRAFFIC CONSTRUCTION UNIT. >> Reporter: INVESTIGATORS HAVE FEW DETAILS TO GO ON, BUT AUTHORITIES HAVE NAMED ONE VICTIM, 88-YEAR-OLD SHIRLEY HARPER POLICE SAY THEY HAVE TENTATIVELY IDENTIFIED THREE OTHER VICTIMS KILLED IN THE PILEUP INVOLVING MORE THAN 70 VEHICLES ALONG INTERSTATE 55, A MAJOR ARTERY BETWEEN CHICAGO AND ST. LOUIS. >> IT WAS LIKE DRIVING INTO A WHITEOUT. >> Reporter: DAVE McQUEEN SAYS HE SURVIVED THE APOCALYPTIC SCENES, HELPING RESCUE A WOMAN TRAPPED BETWEEN TWO SEMIS. >> THE WHEELS OF ONE SEMI AGAINST ONE DOOR AND THE WHEELS OF THE OTHER SEMI AGAINST THE OTHER DOOR. >> Reporter: THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAYS THE BLINDING DUST CAME FROM FRESHLY TILLED AND PLANTED FARM FIELDS, PROPELLED BY WINDS GUSTING UP TO 45 MILES PER HOUR TO CREATE A DUST STORM. >> THIS IS A TERRIBLE SERIES OF CONVERGING CIRCUMSTANCES. VERY UNUSUAL AND A TERRIBLE LOSS OF LIFE. >> Reporter: POLICE REPORTING AT LEAST 37 INJURIES, MINOR TO CRITICAL, WITH AT LEAST ON 2-YEAR-OLD CHILD AMONG THOSE HURT ONE AREA HOSPITAL SYSTEM SAYS MANY PEOPLE HAVE BEEN DISCHARGED AS DOZENS RECOVER FROM THAT BLINDING STORM >> AND JESSE JOINING US NOW NEAR THE SCENE WHERE THERE WAS ANOTHER DUST THREAT TODAY I UNDERSTAND >> Reporter: YEAH. LESTER, YOU CAN HEAR POWERFUL WINDS GUSTING IN THE AREA AGAIN TONIGHT. THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE EARLIER WARNED PEOPLE TO PREPARE FOR ZERO VISIBILITY, TELLING DRIVERS IF THAT HAPPENED, THEY SHOULD PULL FAR OFF THE ROAD, PUT THE CAR IN PARK AND TURN OFF THEIR LIGHTS TO HOPEFULLY AVOID MORE SCENES LIKE THIS ONE LESTER >> WE CAN CERTAINLY HEAR THE WIND BLOWING BEHIND YOU JESSE, THANK YOU >>> THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION TONIGHT ANNOUNCING IT'S SENDING 1,500 TROOPS TO THE SOUTHERN BORDER IN ANTICIPATION OF A SURGE OF MIGRANTS WHEN THE BORDER RESTRICTION KNOWN AS TITLE 42 LIFTS NEXT WEEK. KRISTEN WELKER IS AT THE WHITE HOUSE. KRISTEN, DO WE KNOW WHEN THE TROOPS WILL DEPLOY >> Reporter: LESTER, DEPLOYMENTS BEGIN ON MAY 10th, THE DAY BEFORE TITLE 42 LIFTS. PRESIDENT BIDEN IS SENDING THOSE 1,500 ACTIVE DUTY MILITARY PERSONNEL TO PROVIDE SUPPORT AT THE BORDER FOR 90 DAYS. THE TROOPS WILL NOT MAKE ARRESTS OR INTERACT WITH MIGRANTS BUT WILL ASSIST BORDER PATROL AGENTS MORE THAN 5,000 TROOPS WERE SENT TO THE BORDER DURING THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION NOW A SURGE OF MIGRANTS IS EXPECTED WHEN THAT RESTRICTION LIFTS. THIS COMES AS THERE HAVE BEEN A RECORD NUMBER OF ILLEGAL BORDER CROSSINGS LAST YEAR, INCLUDING 20,000 IN JUST THE LAST 72 HOURS. THE PRESIDENT HAS FACED BIPARTISAN CRITICISM OVER HIS POLICIES A TOP REPUBLICAN DOWNPLAYING THE MOVE, SAYING IT COULD HELP AT THE MARGINS ONE TOP DEMOCRAT ACCUSING THE ADMINISTRATION OF MILITARIZING THE BORDER THE WHITE HOUSE SAYS THIS IS COMMON PRACTICE LESTER >> KRISTEN WELKER, THANK YOU. >>> NOW TO THE TEST OF WILLS AFTER THE TREASURY SECRETARY WARNED THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT COULD DEFAULT ON ITS DEBTS BY EARLY NEXT MONTH IF THE DEBT LIMIT IS NOT RAISED. A MEETING BETWEEN THE PRESIDENT AND CONGRESSIONAL LEADERS NOW SET. RYAN NOBLES IS ON THE POTENTIAL IMPACT FOR US. >> Reporter: TONIGHT A STARING CONTEST ON CAPITOL HILL WITH A LOOMING JUNE DEADLINE TO AVOID AMERICA'S DEFAULT. REPUBLICANS PASS A PLAN TO RAISE THE DEBT LIMIT IF DEMOCRATS AGREE TO SPENDING CUTS, CALLING FOR PRESIDENT BIDEN TO GET ON BOARD >> THE REPUBLICAN CONGRESS HAS PASSED THE DEBT CEILING INCREASE HE DOESN'T WANT THAT APPARENTLY HE NEEDS TO COME FORWARD WITH A PLAN. >> Reporter: THE WHITE HOUSE TONIGHT SAYING THE PRESIDENT WILL INSIST PASSING A DEBT LIMIT INCREASE WITHOUT THOSE SPENDING CUTS. >> WHAT I'M GOING TO SAY IS WE'VE BEEN VERY CLEAR. IT NEEDS TO BE DONE WITHOUT CONDITIONS. >> Reporter: DEFAULT, ANALYSTS SAY, COULD LEAD TO AN ECONOMIC DISASTER, INCLUDING A STOCK MARKET PLUNGE, ERASING $10 TRILLION IN HOUSEHOLD WEALTH, HITTING AMERICANS' 401(k)s. AND THEN THERE IS THE LIKELY RISE IN INTEREST RATES AND WHILE SOCIAL SECURITY AND MEDICARE PAYMENTS SHOULD BE SPARED, OTHER FEDERAL BENEFITS INCLUDING TO THE POOR AND VETERANS COULD BE DELAYED OR HALTED, A MAJOR WORRY FOR KATE WYATT, A GOLD STAR WIFE RAISING HER SON MICHAEL. HER HUSBAND, CORPORAL DEREK WYATT WAS KILLED IN AFGHANISTAN ONE DAY BEFORE MICHAEL WAS BORN ALREADY DEALING WITH HIGH INFLATION, KATE NOW FEARS LOSING BENEFITS SHE RELIES ON >> I'VE ESSENTIALLY GOTTEN A MASTERS FROM MOTHERHOOD UNIVERSITY ON HOW TO MAKE THE DOLLAR STRETCH. >> Reporter: KATE TELLS US POLITICIANS ARE FORGETTING THE PROMISE THEY MADE TO HER LATE HUSBAND >> I CAN'T MOVE ON WITH MY LIFE AND HELP PEOPLE LIKE ME BECAUSE OF THE GOVERNMENT REFUSING TO HAVE NEGOTIATIONS AND COMPROMISE IN THE SAME WAY THAT THEY HAVE EXPECTED VETERANS TO NEGOTIATE AND COMPROMISE >> DO YOU FEEL THAT YOU'VE DONE MORE THAN COMPROMISE YOU HAVE PAID THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE, RIGHT? >> ABSOLUTELY. >> Reporter: AND WE'VE LEARNED TONIGHT THAT ALL FOUR CONGRESSIONAL LEADERS WILL BE AT NEXT WEEK'S MEETING WITH PRESIDENT BIDEN, BUT GOP SENATE LEADER MITCH McCONNELL SAID IT WILL BE UP TO SPEAKER McCARTHY AND THE PRESIDENT TO HASH OUT A DEAL LESTER >> RYAN NOBLES, THANK YOU. >>> THERE HAS BEEN DEVELOPMENT IN A MISSISSIPPI JAIL BREAK WE'VE BEEN FOLLOWING THE THIRD OF FOUR ESCAPED INMATES HAS NOW BEEN ACCOUNTED FOR. CASEY GRAYSON WAS FOUND DEAD AT A NEW ORLEANS TRUCK STOP SUNDAY, ONE WEEK AFTER HE AND THREE OTHERS BROKE OUT OF A HINES COUNTY JAIL. ONE PRISONER, COREY HARRISON, IS STILL ON THE LOOSE. >>> WE'RE GETTING NEW DETAILS TONIGHT ABOUT THE HEARTBREAKING WEDDING NIGHT DEATH OF A NEW BRIDE. JUST HOURS AFTER GETTING MARRIED, SHE AND HER HUSBAND WERE HIT BY AN ALLEGED DRUNK DRIVER, WHO IS NOW BEING HELD WITHOUT BOND CATIE BECK HAS THE LATEST. >> Reporter: HOURS AFTER TAKING HER WEDDING VOWS IN FOLLY BEACH, SOUTH CAROLINA, RIDING IN A GOLF CART IN HER WEDDING DRESS BESIDE THE MAN SHE'D PLEDGED TO LOVE FOR LIFE, 34-YEAR-OLD SAMANTHA MILLER LOST HER LIFE IN A DEADLY CAR ACCIDENT >> SHE TOLD ARIC ON THE GOLF CART THAT SHE WANTED THIS DAY TO LAST FOREVER >> Reporter: NEW HUSBAND ARIC HUTCHINSON IS IN STABLE CONDITION AFTER SURGERY. ALSO INJURED IN THE ACCIDENT, THE BRIDE'S BROTHER-IN-LAW AND NEPHEW HUTCHINSON'S MOTHER WRITING, "I WAS HANDED ARIC'S WEDDING RING IN A PLASTIC BAG AT THE HOSPITAL, FIVE HOURS AFTER SAM PLACED IT ON HIS FINGER ARIC HAS LOST THE LOVE OF HIS LIFE. POLICE SAY 25-YEAR-OLD JAMIE LEE KOMOROSKI WAS DRIVING 65 MILES PER HOUR, MORE THAN DOUBLE THE SPEED LIMIT, WHEN SHE STRUCK THE GOLF CART FROM BEHIND, FLIPPING IT ON ITS SIDE >> YEAH, SHE WAS FLYING DOWN THE ROAD AND JUST SLAMMED INTO THE BACK OF THEIR CART >> Reporter: NOW CHARGED WITH A DUI INVOLVING DEATH AND RECKLESS HOMICIDE. THE OFFICER ONSCENE REPORTS AFTER ATTEMPTS TO REVIVE MILLER AND TREAT VICTIMS, HE ASKED KOMOROSKI TO RATE HER SOBRIETY ON SCALE OF 1 TO 10, 10 BEING THE MOST IMPAIRED SHE STATED SHE WAS AT AN 8 IN THE MEANTIME, THE SMALL BEACH COMMUNITY GRIEVING >> THE DEVASTATION OF SEEING HER IN THAT DRESS MUST HAVE -- THAT'S GOING TO PROBABLY STAY WITH YOU. >> OH, ABSOLUTELY. THERE IS NO REAL EASY WAY TO GET OVER IT. >> Reporter: POLICE SAY THEIR INVESTIGATION CONTINUES, INCLUDING LOOKING INTO KOMOROSKI'S CELL PHONE RECORDS AS WELL AS HER ACTIVITIES PRIOR TO THE CRASH. THEY SAY THEY'RE ALSO WAITING FOR HER BLOOD ALCOHOL RESULTS. LESTER >> ALL RIGHT CATIE BECK, THANK YOU. >>> IN 60 SECONDS, THE NEW EPIDEMIC OF LONELINESS IN AMERICA. THE SURGEON GENERAL'S WARNING ABOUT THE HEALTH CONSEQUENCES BOTH MENTAL AND PHYSICAL AND WHAT CAN BE DONE. >>> WE'RE BACK NOW WITH THE GROWING EPIDEMIC SWEEPING THE NATION THAT SOME DOCTORS SAY IS AS BAD FOR YOU AS SMOKING IT'S LONELINESS, AND THE LEVELS ARE SKYROCKETING HERE IS STEPHANIE GOSK WITH HOW WE HAVE BECOME A NATION SO DESPERATE FOR CONNECTION, AND WHAT'S BEING DONE ABOUT IT. >> Reporter: WALKING CLUBS ARE TAKING OFF, AND IT'S NOT JUST THE EXERCISE >> YOU'RE CONNECTING WITH SOMEONE, WHICH IS SOMETHING THAT I WAS KIND OF MISSING. >> Reporter: MORE AND MORE PEOPLE ARE MISSING THAT CONNECTION AND ARE FEELING LONELY. >> THE PANDEMIC POURED FUEL ON A FIRE THAT WAS ALREADY BURNING. >> Reporter: DR. VIVEK MURTHY, THE U.S. SURGEON, SAYS LONELINESS IS AN EPIDEMIC, THE FOCUS OF AN 80-PAGE ADVISORY HE IS RELEASING TODAY >> WE'RE USED TO THINKING ABOUT SMOKING AND OBESITY AS CLEAR PUBLIC HEALTH CONCERNS >> Reporter: YOU'RE SAYING LONELINESS IS COMPARABLE TO SMOKING IN TERMS OF THE DETRIMENT TO YOUR HEALTH >> YEAH, IN TERMS OF THE RISK THAT IT POSES FOR PREMATURE DEATH, YES. >> Reporter: HALF OF U.S. ADULTS EXPERIENCE MEASURABLE LONELINESS, AND IT'S GREATER AMONG YOUNG ADULTS >> WHEN YOU STRUGGLE WITH LONELINESS, WHEN YOU'RE SOCIALLY DISCONNECTED, IT INCREASES YOUR RISK OF DEPRESSION AND ANXIETY AND SUICIDE, BUT IT ALSO INCREASES YOUR RISK OF PHYSICAL ILLNESS, AS WELL >> Reporter: LONELINESS INCREASES THE RISK OF HEART DISEASE, STROKE, AND AMONG OLDER ADULTS, DEMENTIA THE CURE, DR. MURTHY SAYS, IS NOT ONLY PERSONAL CHANGE, BUT SOCIETAL CHANGE, AS WELL >> WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS ACTUALLY REBUILD SOCIAL INFRASTRUCTURE IN OUR COUNTRY >> Reporter: YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT CHANGING THE SOCIAL FABRIC. >> UH-HUH. >> Reporter: THAT'S BEEN DECADES IN THE MAKING. >> IT'S BEEN DECADES IN THE MAKING, BUT IT'S ALSO SOMETHING I'M CONFIDENT WE CAN ADDRESS IF WE PUT OUR MIND TO IT AND WE ACT TOGETHER >> Reporter: AMONG HIS RECOMMENDATIONS, A FOCUS ON COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, MOBILIZING THE HEALTH SECTOR TO RAISE AWARENESS, AND RECONSIDERING HOW WE USE TECHNOLOGY >> IN-PERSON MATTERS CONNECTING ONLINE HAS ITS PLACE, HAS ITS VALUE. BUT IT'S NOT A SUBSTITUTE FOR IN-PERSON CONNECTION WE REALLY DO NEED BOTH. >> Reporter: CULTIVATING AND SUPPORTING TIME TOGETHER FACE-TO-FACE BECAUSE OUR HEALTH DEPENDS ON IT. STEPHANIE GOSK, NBC NEWS >>> STILL AHEAD, A TERRIFYING MIDAIR HEALTH SCARE IS YOUR FLIGHT EQUIPPED FOR A MEDICAL EMERGENCY? WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW. >>> A YOUNG DO >>> A YOUNG DOCTOR IS SPEAKING OUT TONIGHT SAYING SHE NEARLY DIED DURING A MIDAIR MEDICAL EMERGENCY. AND NOW THERE IS A PUSH FOR THE FAA TO REQUIRE EPIPENS COMMON IN SCHOOLS AND AMBULANCES ON EVERY PASSENGER FLIGHT HERE IS TOM COSTELLO >> Reporter: IT WAS A MIDAIR MEDICAL EMERGENCY. AFTER EATING LUNCH WITH FAMILY, DR. LINDSEY ULIN BOARDED A FLIGHT FROM PHOENIX TO AUSTIN WHEN SUDDENLY SHE BROKE OUT IN HIVES AND STRUGGLED TO BREATHE AS HER THROAT BEGAN TO CLOSE >> I RECOGNIZED IMMEDIATELY WHAT WAS HAPPENING AND THAT I NEEDED AN EPIPEN AS FAST AS POSSIBLE TO SAVE MY LIFE. >> Reporter: SOMETHING HAD TRIGGERED ANAPHYLAXIS, A LIFE-THREATENING ALLERGIC REACTION. BUT THE PLANE'S FAA REQUIRED MEDICAL KIT DOES NOT INCLUDE A COMMON EPIPEN, AND NONE OF THE PASSENGERS HAD ONE. >> I WAS VERY CLOSE TO DYING. >> Reporter: FORTUNATELY, THE MEDICAL KIT DID CONTAIN THE REQUIRED VIAL OF EPINEPHRINE AND A SYRINGE. ANOTHER DOCTOR ON BOARD GAVE HER THE INJECTION. WHILE EVERY COMMERCIAL PLANE MUST CARRY A SEALED MED KIT, THE FAA HAS NOT UPDATED THE REQUIRED MEDICATIONS IN NEARLY 20 YEARS NOW THE FAA IS CONSIDERING MEDICAL ADVICE TO UPDATE THE KITS TO INCLUD AUTOMATED BLOOD PRESSURE CUFFS, PEDIATRIC DOSES OF ANTIHISTAMINES, AS WELL AS EPINEPHRINE, AND NARCAN TO REVERSE THE EFFECTS OF AN OPIOID OVERDOSE. MEDICAL ASSOCIATIONS ARE URGING EPIPENS, BUT A NEW FDA RULE COULD BE MONTHS AWAY AT ALTITUDE, FLIGHT ATTENDANTS ARE THE FIRST RESPONDERS. >> WE WILL CALL FOR MEDICAL HELP, BUT THERE IS NOT ALWAYS PEOPLE WHO ARE TRAINED MEDICALLY. >> Reporter: FLIGHT CREWS ROUTINELY CALL THE UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH'S STAT-MD FOR AN EMERGENCY CONSULT, BUT THOSE DOCTORS ARE NOT ON BOARD. >> WHAT IS THE POINT OF HAVING THESE EMERGENCY KITS IF THEY DON'T HAVE THE RIGHT THINGS IN THEM TO SAVE PASSENGERS' LIVES? >> Reporter: ONCE ON THE GROUND, LINDSEY NEEDED TWO EPIPEN INJECTIONS NOW THE FAA AND AIRLINES ARE UNDER PRESSURE TO CARRY MORE LIFE-SAVING DRUGS NOW. TOM COSTELLO, NBC DULGING ME T ONE. THAT'S "NIGHTLY NEWS." THANK YOU FOR WATCHING, EVERYONE I'M LESTER HOLT. TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF AND EACH OTHER GOOD NIGHT