Bomb Threat Briefly Halts All Flights at Reagan National Airport
A bomb threat targeting a United Airlines flight from Houston to Washington D.C. brought all air traffic to a standstill at Ronald Reagan National Airport on Tuesday. Operations resumed by 1:30 p.m. ET following a swift security response.
Key Takeaways
- All flights suspended at Reagan National due to bomb threat
- Threat targeted United Airlines flight from Houston to D.C.
- Operations resumed at 1:30 p.m. ET after security clearance
- Average departure delays reached 51 minutes during shutdown
Airport Security Response
Federal authorities confirmed the bomb threat targeted a Washington-bound United Airlines flight traveling from Houston, Texas. The aircraft was immediately moved to an isolated area of the airfield for security inspection.
Passengers were safely disembarked and transported to the terminal via bus, according to a Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority spokesperson.
Flight Disruptions and Delays
Before normal operations resumed, departing flights experienced significant delays averaging 51 minutes, with some delays exceeding two hours. The Federal Aviation Administration monitored the situation throughout the incident.
US Department of Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy praised law enforcement for their rapid response in resolving the threat and restoring airport operations.
Broader Aviation Concerns
The incident occurred amid growing concerns about aviation safety during the ongoing federal government shutdown. Air traffic controllers have been working without pay for over a month, raising concerns about potential widespread flight disruptions.
“Many of the controllers said ‘A lot of us can navigate missing one paycheck. Not everybody, but a lot of us can. None of us can manage missing two paychecks,'” Duffy stated. “So if you bring us to a week from today, Democrats, you will see mass chaos. You will see mass flight delays. You’ll see mass cancellations, and you may see us close certain parts of the airspace, because we just cannot manage it because we don’t have air traffic controllers.”
The political standoff continues as Democrats demand healthcare subsidy extensions before funding the government, while Republicans insist on resolving the shutdown first.
