— A United Airlines flight from Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport was evacuated on Tuesday 4 November afternoon after landing at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport following what federal officials have now confirmed was a bomb threat.
Air traffic controllers could be heard communicating with United Flight 512, arriving into DCA from Houston, about an “unconfirmed bomb threat,” at around 10:30 a.m. CT, ordering the plane to turn around, according to audio obtained from LiveATC.net.
“I’m sorry to have to do this to you. We’ve got to turn you, again … We have an unconfirmed bomb report for your flight, and we’ve got to get you away from the airport. Make 180,” an air traffic controller can be heard telling the flight crew.
A few minutes later, air traffic control warned other flights about the unconfirmed threat.
“We have an unconfirmed bomb report … I mean, I can confirm someone called. Someone called and said there was a bomb on 512, they said if it landed, it would explode — well, it landed,” an air traffic controller said in LiveATC audio from around 11:37 a.m.
According to Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, the flight landed safely and passengers were bused to the terminal while law enforcement conducted a full search of the aircraft.
“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,” Duffy wrote on X. “The FAA 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.”
Threat prompted temporary ground stop in Washington, D.C.
Emergency crews surrounded the plane on the tarmac as officials sent a staircase truck to help passengers deplane. Video from KHOU 11’s sister station, WUSA9 in Washington, D.C., showed buses taking passengers to the terminal.
Reagan National Airport officials confirmed the evacuation in a post on X, stating:
“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.”
The Federal Aviation Administration issued a ground stop at 10:18 a.m. CT, which was expected to remain in effect until at least 1:30 p.m., with a “medium” chance of extension. Emergency vehicles were seen parked near the United flight, which appeared to be the only aircraft on the tarmac at the time.
Operations have since resumed at Reagan National, according to Secretary Duffy’s update.
Airport confirms flight number, runway closure, and ongoing investigation
In a new statement, Reagan National Airport and the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority confirmed that United Airlines flight 512 landed at 10:30 a.m. CT and stopped on an adjacent runway away from the terminal “in response to a security threat.”
Runways remained closed until passengers were safely offloaded and bused to the terminal, according to airport officials. The runways reopened at 11:50 a.m., and a thorough investigation is underway by MWAA Police with assistance from multiple law enforcement partners.
Officials added that several flights were diverted to other airports during the closure and warned that travelers should expect delays throughout the afternoon.
“People meeting passengers or flying this afternoon should expect delays and check with their airline for updated flight information,” the statement added.
In a new update, United Airlines confirmed additional details about the incident, saying the aircraft landed safely after a potential security concern and was fully cleared by law enforcement.
“United flight 512 landed safely after a potential security concern. Customers deplaned via airstairs and were bused to the terminal. Law enforcement officials searched and cleared the aircraft and it has since taxied to the gate,” the airline said in a statement.
United identified the plane as a Boeing 737 Max 8 that had been flying from Houston’s Bush Intercontinental Airport to Washington, D.C. The flight was carrying 89 passengers and six crew members.
The airline added that law enforcement agencies are handling all additional inquiries about the incident.
Second security-related ground stop in a week
This was the second time in less than a week that flights at Reagan National were grounded for security reasons. The FAA said a previous ground stop last Wednesday, Oct. 29, was linked to military activities in the area.
Nearby airports, Washington Dulles and Baltimore/Washington International, were not affected and continued normal operations throughout Tuesday afternoon.
–KHOU 11
