FAA Pauses Reagan National Flights for Presidential Flyover

The Federal Aviation Administration temporarily halted flight operations at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport on Thursday evening, October 29, 2026. The pause came as a U.S. presidential aircraft made two low passes around the White House during a children’s Halloween event. Reuters reported on October 30 that FlightAware counted 202 delayed flights at the airport across Thursday.

FlightAware’s 202 delayed flights cover the entire day. Reuters linked most delays to the interruption, although the daily total does not isolate every affected flight.

FAA briefly stops Reagan National traffic during two passes

The presidential aircraft made two passes near the White House and surrounding Washington neighborhoods. To accommodate the flyover, the FAA briefly halted ground operations at Reagan National, an agency spokesperson told The Washington Post. Separately, the agency confirmed its coordination to People on October 30.

According to Reuters, some arriving passengers reported circling before landing, while others described delays. Neither the agency’s statements nor the available flight totals specify the duration of the stop for each flight.

President Donald Trump hosted the Halloween event at the White House as the aircraft flew overhead. The airplane is commonly called Air Force One, although that call sign applies only when the president is aboard a U.S. Air Force aircraft.

FlightAware records 202 delayed flights across Thursday

Meanwhile, Reuters cited FlightAware data showing 202 delayed flights across Thursday at Reagan National. Delays affected 26% of departures and 17% of arrivals that day.

However, those percentages measure the airport’s performance over the whole day. They do not represent the number of flights the FAA held during the presidential passes. The pause also had the potential to affect later departures and connections.

Washington officials question how much advance notice was given

The District of Columbia Council criticized the short notice. According to the council, residents in central Washington, Pentagon officials and the airport received about 15 minutes’ warning. Airline officials told Reuters they had less than an hour to prepare.

For the public, the District’s AlertDC notification feed recorded a notice at 5:24 p.m. Eastern time on October 29. It advised that U.S. military aircraft would fly over the National Mall within the next hour.

The FAA confirmed its coordination of the flyover. By contrast, the council’s criticism focused on how much advance notice Washington residents and airport operators received.

What delayed travelers can check

Airport-wide figures cannot establish what happened to an individual reservation. Affected passengers can take three practical steps:

• Check airline notifications for the original flight and any onward connection.
• Ask the operating airline what rebooking or assistance it offers for the specific delay.
• Keep booking records and receipts, and check refund eligibility if the airline canceled or significantly changed the trip.

Under the U.S. Department of Transportation’s refund rules, a cancellation or significant schedule change can trigger a refund when the passenger does not accept the alternative and does not travel. A short operational delay does not automatically entitle every traveler to a refund or cash compensation. AeroSillage has separately explained the current U.S. flight-refund protections.

For more on how the FAA manages flight operations, see AeroSillage’s report on its planned digital departure-clearance rollout.

In all, the October 29 flyover led the FAA to pause Reagan National traffic temporarily. FlightAware recorded 202 delays across the day, according to Reuters.