BREAKING: Security threat on plane temporarily stops all flights at Reagan National Airport

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From NBC Washington: A security threat on board a United Airlines aircraft led to a brief ground stop at Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) outside Washington, D.C., two aviation sources tell NBC News.

Passengers deboarded a United plane on the tarmac and were bused to the terminal, DCA said on social media. Police vehicles with flashing lights were seen near the buses.

The main runway reopened at 12:50 p.m., and flights were resuming, DCA announced about 35 minutes after announcing flight operations were on hold.

Departures to DCA were grounded due to security, a notice from the Federal Aviation Administration said.

CNN correspondent Pete Muntean announced: “All flights in and out of Reagan National Airport are currently halted due to a bomb threat on a flight, a source familiar with the situation tells me. The plane is isolated on the east end of the field. The FAA just extended the DCA ground stop until 1:30 PM ET.”

NBC reporter Joseph Olmo shared an audio of ground control informing the pilot, “I’m sorry I have to do this you… we have an unconfirmed bomb report for your flight.”

The Regan Airport announced on X, “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.”

In an update, the airport wrote: “United Airlines flight 512 landed at Reagan National Airport around 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 bused to the terminal. Runways reopened at 12:50 p.m. Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority police are conducting a thorough investigation with the assistance of multiple law enforcement partners. Several flights were diverted to other airports during the runway closure. People meeting passengers or flying this afternoon should expect delays and check with their airline for updated flight information.”

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy later announced on X, “Earlier today a United flight from Houston to Washington D.C. received a bomb threat. The flight landed safely at DCA, passengers were evacuated, and law enforcement conducted a full search of the aircraft.”

“The @FAANews has received the all clear and operations have resumed. I want to thank our brave men and women in law enforcement for their quick response,” Duffy added.

READ MORE from NBC Washington.

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