By Hollie SilvermanShareNewsweek is a Trust Project memberA ground delay is impacting flights at Reagan National Airport following a ground stop put in place due to a security issue Wednesday afternoon, according to the Federal Aviation Administrations (FAA) National Airspace System Status website.
The ground stop was issued shortly after two National Guard members were shot in downtown D.C. A suspect is in custody, and the condition of the members is unknown.
Officials with the FAA and the FBI told Newsweek in an email Wednesday that the ground stop was connected to the shooting.
The FAA said it had temporarily paused arrivals into DCA "because of the locations of aircraft involved in responding to today’s shooting incident."
Normal operations have since resumed, according to the FAA.
"The security matter delaying DCA flights is related to law enforcement activity in downtown D.C., not at the airport, "Emily McGee, media relations for DCA said in an email, adding, "DCA passengers should expect flight delays and check with their airline for schedule updates."
The incident comes on one of the busiest travel days of the year as people fly to join their families ahead of Thanksgiving.
Newsweek has reached out to the FAA, the FBI and DCA by email for more information.
Why it Matters
DCA, one of the nation's busiest air travel hubs, experienced a brief but significant ground stop Wednesday, after the deadly shooting of two National Guard members near the White House.
The incident, unrelated to airport security but connected to emergency response deployments downtown, disrupted travel on the eve of Thanksgiving, a peak period for domestic flights.
...What To Know
The FAA ordered a ground stop at DCA on Wednesday afternoon, at 3:44 p.m. ET. The decision halted all arrivals, with departures also affected, after two members of the National Guard were shot near the intersection of 17th and I Streets NW, just northwest of the White House.
The shooting led to an extensive emergency and police response, with multiple blocks closed and a significant law enforcement presence in downtown Washington, D.C.
According to the FAA, the order was necessary because aircraft involved in the police and emergency response were operating close to flight paths into DCA.
FAA officials confirmed normal operations resumed shortly after as emergency conditions in the downtown corridor stabilized. The security matter prompting the delay was stated to be strictly related to law enforcement activity off-airport.
The pause affected holiday travelers at DCA, one of the busiest airports in the U.S. during Thanksgiving week.
"DCA passengers should expect flight delays and check with their airline for schedule updates," McGee said in an email.
Officials urged affected passengers to stay in touch with their airlines and monitor both the airport and FAA official channels for further updates, noting that additional delays were possible as airlines worked to reset schedules.
The event that triggered the ground stop began when two National Guard members were fatally shot shortly after 3:20 p.m. ET.
Authorities stated that a suspect was taken into custody, although further information on the identity of the suspect and victims was not immediately available.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem confirmed the incident and said local and federal law enforcement were cooperating in the response. Secret Service and ATF officers were observed at the shooting scene.
What People Are Saying
FAA spokesperson, in an official statement emailed to Newsweek on Wednesday: "The FAA temporarily paused arrivals into Reagan Washington International Airport because of the locations of aircraft involved in responding to today’s shooting incident. Normal operations have resumed."
Emily McGee, media relations at Reagan National Airport, in an email to Newsweek on Wednesday: "The security matter delaying DCA flights is related to law enforcement activity in downtown D.C., not at the airport. DCA passengers should expect flight delays and check with their airline for schedule updates."
President Donald Trump said in a post on Truth Social: "The animal that shot the two National Guardsmen, with both being critically wounded, and now in two separate hospitals, is also severely wounded, but regardless, will pay a very steep price. God bless our Great National Guard, and all of our Military and Law Enforcement. These are truly Great People. I, as President of the United States, and everyone associated with the Office of the Presidency, am with you!"
Karoline Leavitt, White House Press Secretary, in a statement: "Officials are aware and actively monitoring this tragic situation."
What Happens Next
Authorities said investigations into both the shooting and the security response are ongoing.
The FAA continues to monitor law enforcement activity in the region, but as of Wednesday evening, flight operations at Reagan National appeared to have stabilized with lingering delays.
Federal and local agencies have not released the identities of the National Guard victims or the suspect.
Update 11/26/25 4:07 p.m. ET: This story has been updated with more information.
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