The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) imposed a ground stop at Washington D.C.’s Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport on Tuesday morning following an alleged bomb threat involving a United Airlines flight. The restriction, which began at 11:18 a.m., remained in effect until 1:30 p.m., disrupting operations for over 800 flights.
Emergency vehicles were observed near a United flight on the tarmac, the only aircraft present during the halt. Travelers reported rumors of a bomb threat on the plane, which had arrived from Houston. Flight tracking data showed multiple aircraft circling the airport while others diverted to alternative destinations.
Similar ground stops occurred on October 29, when the FAA cited “military activities” as the cause. On Tuesday, the agency attributed the disruption to “security” concerns. Nearby airports, including Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) and Baltimore/Washington International Airport (BWI), maintained normal schedules.
Transportation reporter Adam Tuss noted the scene on social media: “Ground stop at @Reagan_Airport as a United flight sits on the runway with police and airport officials nearby. All flight operations at DCA are stopped.” No further details about the specific flight or threat were immediately released.