Air traffic was halted at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport on Tuesday after a “security issue” was reported on a United Airlines flight that arrived from Houston, the authorities said.
The F.B.I. said that its agents responded to a bomb threat at the airport, outside Washington, D.C., but that “no hazards were found.” An investigation would continue, the agency said.
Images circulating on social media showed the jet, a Boeing 737 Max-8, sitting on the tarmac surrounded by emergency vehicles shortly after it arrived at the airport from George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston at 11:20 a.m. Just over an hour later, the airport said the passengers were being loaded onto buses to be taken to the terminal.
United Airlines said in a statement that Flight 512 from Houston “landed safely after a potential security concern.” There were 89 passengers and six crew members on the flight, the airline said, noting that the authorities “searched and cleared the aircraft and it has since taxied to the gate.”
The Federal Aviation Administration said earlier that it was “aware of a reported security issue on an aircraft” at the airport, and that passengers were moved from the aircraft while the authorities investigated.
The runways reopened at 12:50 p.m., the airport said, noting that several flights had been diverted to other airports. The airport warned of residual delays because of the closure.
Aimee Ortiz covers breaking news and other topics.
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