Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) has re-opened, and a 
United Airlines jet has been secured, after a security threat to an incoming flight earlier today. The airport’s control tower received a call saying that there was a bomb aboard Flight 512 from 
Houston George Bush Intercontinental Airport. The airport immediately initiated a full ground stop, halting all arrivals and departures for approximately 90 minutes.
The United flight landed without incident at 11:20 and passengers were safely disembarked before law enforcement performed a thorough search of the aircraft. No bomb was found, and the aircraft was moved to its gate and the airport re-opened at 12:50. According to FlightRadar, a total of 31 flights were diverted during the ground stop, and the airport is still experiencing considerable delays.
Bomb Threats And Blackmail At DCA
The incident began this morning with a bomb threat and attempt at blackmail. The Washington Post reports that a person contacted the airport’s control tower and demanded payment of $500,000 in cryptocurrency, according to multiple people familiar with the incident. The caller said that United Flight 512 had a bomb on board, and would explode upon landing if the payment wasn’t made.
The airport issued an immediate ground stop at 11:18 in response to the threat, and the United flight, a Boeing 737 MAX 8, landed safely just two minutes later. It halted on an adjacent runway and passengers and crew were rapidly disembarked via airstairs and bussed to the terminal. United later reported that the flight had 89 passengers and six crew members on board.
The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority confirmed the incident, saying:
“United Airlines Flight 512 landed at Reagan National Airport shortly before 11:30 a.m. and then stopped on an adjacent runway away from the terminal in response to a security threat. Airport runways remained closed until passengers were safely offloaded and bussed to the terminal.”
No Bomb, But Extensive Diversions And Delays
Law enforcement immediately converged on the aircraft after passengers and crew were safely evacuated, conducting an extensive search for any signs of explosives. This included Reagan National’s police, as well as the FBI Washington Field Office’s National Capital Response Squad. No hazards were found, and the United aircraft was taken to its gate, with the airport re-opening at 12:50. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy later confirmed the incident and the all-clear on X:
While operations have resumed at DCA, a ‘ground delay’ remains in place, with average delays to arrivals and departures of more than 80 minutes going into the evening. A total of 31 incoming flights were also forced to divert to nine other airports due to the ground stop. Ten flights ended up at Washington Dulles International Airport, nine at Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport, with the balance diverting to airports further out before getting too close into DC airspace.
An Aviation System Under Stress
Today’s incident comes as the American aviation system is facing significant challenges due to the ongoing government shutdown. Earlier on Tuesday, Secretary Duffy said that parts of US airspace may need to be closed next week if the shutdown persists. Roughly 13,000 air traffic controllers are working without paychecks, and 50% of their facilities are facing staffing shortages, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.
Duffy attributed the shutdown, which has lasted for over a month, to legislative gridlock caused by congressional Democrats. He warned reporters that if the stalemate continues through mid-November, the US air travel system could experience widespread disruptions. US airports have already been hit with flight delays, cancellations and even brief ground stops due to the toll the shutdown is taking on air traffic controllers.
