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Washington DC airport halts traffic after threat reported against plane

The control tower at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, with the Washington Monument in the background, is seen in Washington, DC, USA, October 31, 2025. (FILE PHOTO/REUTERS)

5 Nov 2025 01:08

WASHINGTON (REUTERS)

The US Federal Aviation Administration on Tuesday halted traffic at Reagan Washington National Airport after a reported threat against a United Airlines plane.

The FAA said operations were halted after a reported security issue and passengers have been taken off the plane, and the aircraft is away from the terminal while authorities investigate.

A person briefed on the matter said a threat had been made against the plane and in an abundance of caution the plane was being checked.

United referred questions to the FBI. The FBI did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Reagan Airport is just 5 miles from the White House and US Capitol and the FAA imposes special security restrictions around the airspace. FlightRadar24, a flight tracking site, said the issue was prompted by an unconfirmed threat against a United flight that had arrived from Houston and added the airport was preparing to reopen just before 1pm ET.

More than 160 flights have already been delayed at Reagan, according to FlightAware.