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Flights Grounded at DC Airport Amid Security Emergency
4 Nov
Summary
- Flights halted at Reagan National Airport due to security emergency
- Government shutdown impacts air traffic controllers and TSA agents
- Transportation Secretary warns of mass delays and cancellations
In November 2025, a security emergency has led to a ground stop and the halting of all flights at Washington, DC's Ronald Reagan National Airport. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued the ground stop, freezing all departing flights between 11:18 am and 12:30 pm ET.
The incident occurred just minutes before the US Transportation Secretary warned about the severe impact of the ongoing government shutdown on the airline industry. The Secretary predicted "mass chaos, mass flight delays, mass cancellations" and even the potential closure of certain airspaces if the shutdown continued.
The ground stop was not triggered by staffing shortages, but the government shutdown has already prompted air traffic controllers and TSA agents to call out due to unpaid wages, causing widespread delays at airports across the country. While the specific details of the security emergency are still being evaluated, the situation highlights the growing strain on the aviation sector as the shutdown drags on.
