Bomb Threat at Ronald Reagan Airport Halts All Flights: What Travelers Need to Know

Ronald Reagan National Airport, among America's most frequented aviation hubs in Washington, faced an unexpected operational disruption on Tuesday.

Federal authorities announced a complete suspension of flight activities at the airport following a bomb threat incident. The threat specifically targeted a United Airlines flight en route from Houston, Texas to Ronald Reagan National Airport in the Washington metropolitan area, as confirmed by US Department of Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy via X platform.

During the security response, all scheduled departures and arrivals were temporarily suspended. The affected aircraft was directed to an isolated section of the airfield as a safety measure. Passengers were safely evacuated from the plane and transported to the terminal by bus, according to information provided by a Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority representative.

When approached for comment, a United Airlines spokesperson redirected inquiries to the FBI.

Airport operations fully resumed at approximately 1:30 p.m. Eastern Time. Secretary Duffy expressed appreciation for law enforcement's quick and effective response to the situation.

Before normal operations were restored, departing flights experienced significant delays. The Federal Aviation Administration reported an average delay time of 51 minutes on Tuesday afternoon, with some passengers facing maximum wait times exceeding two hours.

This incident occurs as flight delays across the nation have been increasing, coinciding with the federal government shutdown entering its second month, which has resulted in air traffic controllers continuing to work without compensation.