On Tuesday, flights at Ronald Reagan National Airport were halted for several hours due to security measures implemented to protect the Iraqi prime minister during his visit to Washington, D.C. This resulted in over a hundred canceled flights and cascading delays.
Commercial flights were prevented from taking off or landing between 11 a.m. ET and approximately 3 p.m. As reported by FlightAware, more than 300 flights faced delays, and at least 126 flights were canceled.
This area is among the most congested and tightly controlled airspaces in the United States. Hundreds of daily commercial flights share space with military traffic and navigate around federal buildings in Washington and northern Virginia.
White House and Federal Aviation Administration officials coordinated timing updates during Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi’s visit to minimize the impact. A senior administration official noted that planes holding in the air were allowed to land, and those on the ground were cleared for departure.
Spokespersons for the FAA and Department of Transportation did not provide comments.
President Trump hosted Prime Minister al-Zaidi, elected in May, to discuss future U.S.-Iraqi relations. Their meeting extended to an impromptu lunch invitation by President Trump, citing a strong chemistry between the two.
Al-Zaidi’s motorcade, accompanied by a security helicopter, departed the White House for the Pentagon at 1:30 p.m., passing through DCA’s airspace.
Al-Zaidi’s position followed U.S. pressures concerning a candidate deemed too close to Iran. His government has urged pro-Iranian militias in Iraq to disarm by September 30, coinciding with the scheduled withdrawal of U.S. troops.
Amid the ongoing U.S. conflict with Iran, now in its fourth month, security concerns have heightened both in the Middle East and domestically. Counterterrorism experts warn of potential Iranian actions in the U.S., including networks of surrogates targeting regime opponents.
The federal government has also highlighted non-Iran-related threats, such as recent assassination attempts against President Trump.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth briefed selected members of Congress at the Pentagon on the proposed $1.5 trillion military budget. This budget aims to enhance U.S. defense capabilities against critical threats.
Additionally, last month, the FBI disrupted a plot to attack a UFC fight at the White House, involving snipers and explosive-laden drones. Authorities later indicted eight individuals linked to the plan, although no drones were found, with discussions on their use still ongoing.