Security Measures Cause Flight Disruptions at D.C. Airport

Flights at Ronald Reagan National Airport faced significant disruptions on Tuesday due to security measures. These precautions, designed to safeguard the Iraqi prime minister during his visit to Washington, D.C., caused over a hundred flight cancellations and delays, sources informed CBS News.

Commercial flights at the D.C.-area airport were halted from 11 a.m. ET to around 3 p.m. Over 300 flights experienced delays and at least 126 were canceled, according to FlightAware. Reagan National Airport is situated in one of the U.S.’s busiest and most regulated airspaces, where daily commercial flights overlap with military operations and navigate around federal buildings in Washington and northern Virginia.

White House and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) officials worked to provide updates during Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi’s visit, aiming to reduce disruption, a senior administration official stated. Some aircraft in transit were permitted to land at the airport, while those grounded were allowed to depart. Both FAA and Department of Transportation representatives declined to comment.

President Trump welcomed al-Zaidi to discuss U.S.-Iraqi relations on his first American visit, extending the meeting to include a lunch due to their favorable rapport. Al-Zaidi’s motorcade was delayed in leaving for the Pentagon, departing at 1:30 p.m., with aerial security through the airport’s airspace.

Al-Zaidi became prime minister following Mr. Trump’s warnings to retract U.S. backing for Iraq if an Iran-affiliated candidate emerged victorious. Al-Zaidi maintains a delicate balance with Iran, a nation that holds substantial sway in Iraqi affairs. Iraq’s government has aimed to demobilize pro-Iranian militias by September 30, coinciding with the scheduled withdrawal of U.S. forces.

The U.S. conflict with Iran, ongoing for four months, has escalated security concerns in the Middle East and on U.S. soil. Experts in counterterrorism caution that Iran has historically targeted actions within the U.S., utilizing domestic surrogates to execute kidnapping and assassination plots targeting regime adversaries. The federal authorities have also raised alarms about threats unrelated to Iran, especially following attempted assassinations of Mr. Trump.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth convened select members of Congress at the Pentagon on Tuesday evening for discussions on the military’s budget proposal, sources relayed. The proposed $1.5 trillion budget seeks funding for weapons and enhancements in military capabilities, which proponents assert are necessary to confront critical security threats.

Recently, the FBI disrupted plans to assault a UFC event at the White House using snipers and drone explosives, leading to the indictment of eight involved individuals. Last month, sources disclosed that no drones had yet been recovered, and the usage of drones remained under discussion and research.