Full Episode: Saturday, April 18, 2026

World News Tonight with David Muir delivers a gripping Saturday evening broadcast packed with breaking global and domestic developments. The episode opens with a chilling mystery in New Jersey, where a 19-year-old woman, Sarah Stern, is reported missing after her car was found abandoned on a bridge—sparking a search that may involve buried secrets and a plot resembling a movie. The news then shifts to severe weather across the Midwest, where dozens of tornadoes have caused widespread destruction in Illinois, Wisconsin, and other states, with no fatalities reported but significant infrastructure damage. A tense midair incident unfolds as a United Airlines flight is diverted to Pittsburgh over a bomb threat, prompting emergency evacuations via slides before authorities found no device. Meanwhile, escalating tensions in the Strait of Hormuz see Iran reassert control and fire on ships, directly challenging President Trump’s claim that the waterway was open, with the U.S.-Iran ceasefire set to expire in four days. The episode also covers the arrest of singer David Burke in connection with the murder of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas, whose body was found in his Tesla, sparking a national outcry and family advocacy. Pope Leo, on a historic peace mission in Africa, declines to engage in public debate with Trump, emphasizing unity and faith. Additional segments include a skydiver’s near-fatal crash at a college football game, a mass shooting in Kiev, and the NBA playoffs spotlighting rising stars and potential farewell moments for legends like LeBron James and Kevin Durant. The broadcast closes with heartwarming human stories, including seniors at Coachella offering safety messages to festivalgoers, and a record-breaking $906,000 auction for a Titanic life jacket.