became a joke in our eoc that it was the wizard of oz because we never got a name. >> reporter: lisa meyers, nbc news, washington. >>> a merger in the flying business to report tonight. southwest is moving to buy airtran, in a $1.4 billion deal that would unite two big discount carriers. airtran is the former value jet. they have 270 scheduled daily departures. southwest carries more domestic passengers than any other u.s. airline. this purchase would expand southwest into 37 more cities. it follows another big merger, continental and united will formally join together later this week. >>> the pilot and crew of a delta commuter flight are getting high marks following an emergency landing over the weekend, all captured on a passenger's video camera. the flight out of atlanta had stuck right landing gear but the veteran pilot brought it in safely. while out the window sparks were seen flying. 64 people aboard, not a scratch on one of them. when the pilot's mom was told the news, she appropriately called her son a hero. >>> when our broadcast continues in a moment on a monday night, more of "e