All flights were grounded at a major US airport after cop cars flooded the runway(Image: WUSA9)

Washington Airport RECAP: Flights grounded at major hub after 'bomb threat'

All flights were grounded at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport following a 'security issue' as passengers were seen being evacuated from a plane

by · The Mirror

All flights were grounded at a major airport in Washington DC, the Federal Aviation Administration said.

All departing flights at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport were halted for over an hour from 11:18 am ET, with reports suggesting a "bomb threat". The main runway reopened at 12:50 pm, and flights have since resumed, according to the airport.

Passengers were seen being escorted off an aircraft on the runway. The FAA confirmed the plane was moved "away from the terminal".

18:46Eliana Nunes

Flights resumed but delays remain

Flights have since resumed, the airport announced. However, the FAA said that departing flights are experiencing an average delay of 51 minutes, with a maximum delay of over two hours.

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Where was the reported threat?

According to AirLive, the reported threat targeted the United Airlines flight UA512 arriving from Houston IAD. The aviation news outlet added that the Boeing 737 MAX 8 had been moved away from the terminal area while authorities conduct their investigation.

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FAA issues statement

The Federal Aviation Administration, the US government agency responsible for the safety of civil aviation, has issued a statement.

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Police gathered on runway

A video of the scene appears to show a crowd of police gathered on the runway behind a United Airlines plane, CBS affiliate WUSA reports.

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Flights 'halted due to bomb threat on plane'

According to Pete Muntean, a CNN correspondent covering aviation, the flights were halted due to "a bomb threat on a plane".

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Why were flights paused?

According to flight tracking site FlightRadar24, flights were paused due to an unconfirmed threat against a United Airlines plane. The aircraft was moved away from other aircraft at the airport.

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When were flights paused?

All flights at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport have been paused from 11:18 am ET.

It comes after a security emergency was issued at 11:30 am ET.