Tense moments hit Reagan National Airport near Washington, DC Thursday morning when a suspicious package prompted the evacuation of Concourse D, sending passengers scrambling to safety.
The package was found in a break room around 9 am, according to the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA). The Airports Authority police quickly set up a safety perimeter around the area, which included clearing passengers from Concourse D to ensure everyone’s safety. Officials said they would provide updates once more information was available but they did not release any details about why the package was considered suspicious.
Concourse D is part of Terminal 2 and serves American Airlines flights. The evacuation comes as Transportation Security Administration (TSA) workers continue to face ongoing pay issues during the partial government shutdown affecting the Department of Homeland Security.
The Arlington County Fire Department cleared the item around 10:20 am and airport operations are now returning to normal. Passengers are being urged to reconfirm flight times and gate assignments with their airlines before proceeding.
"Around 9 a.m., a suspicious package was located in a break room. The Airports Authority police established a perimeter for safety until the item can be cleared, that included moving passengers out of the D Concourse. We will let you know when we have an update." Reagan Airport posted on their X.
{{/usCountry}}"Around 9 a.m., a suspicious package was located in a break room. The Airports Authority police established a perimeter for safety until the item can be cleared, that included moving passengers out of the D Concourse. We will let you know when we have an update." Reagan Airport posted on their X.
{{/usCountry}}“The item was cleared around 10:20 a.m. by the Arlington County Fire Department. Airport operations are returning to normal. Passengers are urged to reconfirm flight times and gate assignments with their airline," they added.
Passengers can now resume their travel but are advised to check flight times and gate information with their airlines.