Major airport shut down as flights halted on account of ‘bomb risk’
All flights have been suspended from an airport in Washington DC after a bomb threat onboard a plane. Armed cops swarmed the runway at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport gathered behind a stationary plane on Tuesday.
All flights departing the airport were paused at 11:18 am local time. Passengers stranded on the runway said there was a bomb threat on a United Airlines flight that landed from Houston, Texas.
Flight radar information captured several planes circling the airport during the ground stop, while others are diverting to other locations.
An airport spokesman said: “All flight operations are being held at Reagan National while passengers on a United Airlines flight are being offloaded and bussed to the terminal. We will provide more information as it becomes available.”
(Image: Getty Images)
Photos from the scene show passengers being escorted off the grounded aircraft and across the tarmac. The Federal Aviation Administration said they were bussed back to the terminal.
But a large number of police vehicles with flashing lights were seen close to the plane as cops probe reports of a bomb onboard.
Terrifying radio between an air traffic controller and the pilot reveals an unconfirmed bomb threat caused the ground stop, local media in the US reports.
In the recording, the controller said: “United 512 I’m sorry to have to do this to you. We’re got to turn you again, sir. We have an unconfirmed bomb report for your flight. We’ve got to get you away from the airport. Make a 180, taxi ‘Mike’ and hold short Runway 1.”
The pilot confirmed that he was turning the aircraft around, and the controller said: “I’m sorry guys.” The pilot replied: “No worries.”
he Federal Aviation Administration said in a statement: “The FAA is aware of a reported security issue on an aircraft at Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA). Passengers have been removed and the aircraft is away from the terminal while authorities investigate.”
The airport is one of the busiest in the US and is critical to politicians’ travels, seeing nearly one takeoff or landing per minute.
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