Travelers faced sudden disruptions at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) on Tuesday as flights were temporarily halted due to a security emergency.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued a ground stop, pausing all departures from the airport between 11:18 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. ET.
Ground Stop Comes Amid Government Shutdown Concerns
The halt occurred just minutes before U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy issued a warning about the ongoing government shutdown’s impact on the airline industry.
“If you bring us to a week from today, Democrats, you will see mass chaos, you will see mass flight delays,” Duffy said.
“You’ll see mass cancellations, and you may see us close certain parts of the airspace because we just cannot manage it.”
The shutdown has now entered its 35th day, with unpaid air traffic controllers and TSA agents calling out, resulting in widespread delays at airports nationwide.
FAA Clarifies Cause of Ground Stop
Despite the chaos, the FAA confirmed that the ground stop at DCA was not caused by staffing shortages.
The agency labeled the probability of an extension as ‘medium’, meaning the situation was still under evaluation at the time of the notice.
In FAA terminology, “security” can cover a variety of scenarios, including threat investigations, restricted-area breaches, terminal evacuations, or even temporary airspace lockdowns in the nation’s capital.
Widespread Impact on Flights
Approximately 820 flights were affected by the ground stop, with average delays of 33 minutes and maximum delays reaching 66 minutes.
The disruption extended beyond DCA, impacting flights from multiple regional air traffic centers, including New York, Atlanta, Jacksonville, Cleveland, Boston, and Indianapolis.
Developing Situation
Authorities continue to monitor the situation, and more updates are expected as the security assessment progresses.
Travelers are advised to stay in touch with their airlines for the latest information on departures and delays.