BREAKING: Bomb Threat on United Flight Grounds All Operations at Reagan National Airport

WASHINGTON, D.C. — November 4, 2025

17GEN4.com

Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA), the bustling gateway just miles from the nation's capital, came to a screeching halt Tuesday morning after a bomb threat targeted a United Airlines flight inbound from Houston. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued an immediate ground stop, freezing departures and forcing inbound aircraft to circle or divert, plunging hundreds of travelers into uncertainty amid a backdrop of heightened aviation security concerns.

United Flight UA512, an Airbus A320 carrying 154 passengers and crew from George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH), touched down safely at 10:47 a.m. ET. Moments later, airport authorities received credible intelligence of a potential explosive device onboard, triggering a full-scale emergency response. Eyewitness videos shared on social media captured the jet isolated on a remote taxiway, ringed by flashing lights from Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority police, FBI agents, and bomb-squad technicians in protective gear.

"Passengers were deplaned via airstairs onto the tarmac—no jets bridges, no terminals," reported one traveler describing a scene of controlled chaos as families clutched carry-ons under the watchful eyes of K-9 units. "We left everything behind: laptops, bags, even shoes for screening." The bomb squad deployed robots and explosive-detection dogs in a meticulous sweep that lasted over two hours, sources familiar with the operation told reporters.

By 11:30 p.m., the FAA lifted the ground stop after authorities declared the aircraft clear—no explosives found. Still, the ripple effects were massive: Flightradar24 tracked at least 12 diversions to nearby hubs like Dulles (IAD) and Baltimore (BWI), with delays averaging 45 minutes and climbing. The disruption impacted roughly 820 flights and thousands of passengers on one of the busiest travel days ahead of the midweek rush.

United Airlines released a statement apologizing for the "security-related delay," vowing to rebook affected customers and provide meal vouchers. "The safety of our passengers and crew remains our top priority," a spokesperson said. The airline confirmed UA512 would undergo additional inspections before returning to service.The threat's origin remains under investigation by the FBI's Joint Terrorism Task Force. Preliminary reports suggest it may have been phoned in anonymously, echoing a string of hoax bomb scares that have plagued U.S. carriers this year—from lavatory mirror scrawls to mid-flight notes. Just last month, similar incidents forced returns in Honolulu and Chicago, costing millions in diverted fuel and lost revenue.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, speaking at a press conference hours later, warned that such pranks exacerbate strains from the ongoing government shutdown, now in its 35th day. "We're seeing mass chaos at airports nationwide—unpaid TSA screeners, fatigued controllers," Duffy said. "One hoax can cascade into a national headache." He urged Congress to end the impasse, noting air traffic controllers are set to miss paychecks again this week. 17GEN4.com