Drone Report Briefly Pauses Flight Operations at Reagan National

Flight operations at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport were paused for about 20 minutes on the evening of September 17 after two pilots reported an apparent drone over the active runway. According to FAA information reported by CNN and Simple Flying, controllers warned other crews of unauthorized UAS activity near DCA; its type and color were unknown. Departures were held while airport operations personnel searched the area.

One report came from the crew of an American Airlines regional flight arriving from Tulsa; a charter pilot awaiting departure separately reported a light that might have been a drone. No drone was found, and flights resumed. Authorities were notified, but available reports did not identify an operator or confirm the object’s make, model or precise location. The event therefore remains a reported UAS sighting rather than a confirmed drone incursion.

FAA rules prohibit unmanned aircraft within the 15-mile inner ring around Washington, D.C., without specific authorization. The airport sits within exceptionally constrained national-capital airspace, where the agency says a 30-mile Special Flight Rules Area limits flight operations. In January, FAA also made permanent restrictions that limit nonessential helicopter and powered-lift operations in certain areas near DCA, following the January 2025 midair collision.

Why it matters

Even an unverified sighting can interrupt airport operations when controllers cannot promptly rule out a collision threat. The event underlines the importance of prompt reporting, drone compliance and reliable detection and response procedures near runways.

Sources: Federal Aviation Administration — DC Area Prohibited & Restricted Airspace; CNN via KTVZ — Flights stopped at Washington, DC, area airport as unauthorized drone appears over runway; Simple Flying — Flights Resume At Washington National Airport After Unauthorized Drone Causes Brief Halt; Federal Aviation Administration — Permanent restrictions near Reagan National Airport