- The Federal Aviation Administration paused departures for 20 minutes at Reagan National Airport after two drone sightings.
- An American Airlines jet from Tulsa and a New Jersey-bound aircraft both reported a possible drone near Runway 19.
- Search crews found no drone, and authorities announced no arrests after the September seventeenth incident.
The Federal Aviation Administration paused departures at Reagan National Airport for about 20 minutes on September 17, 2026, after two flight crews reported seeing a drone near Runway 19. The reports came Wednesday night during separate arrival and departure movements.
An American Airlines regional jet approaching from Tulsa made the first report. Its pilot said the object passed by during final approach.
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“We saw, like, a drone or something that went flying by, probably halfway down the runway.”
A second pilot waiting to leave for New Jersey then reported seeing a light. The pilot described it as a possible drone.
“I a light I thought have been drone too.”
Air traffic control warned other crews after the reports. The controller identified the aircraft’s type and color as unknown.
“unauthorized UAS (unmanned aerial system) activity reported in the vicinity of DCA, type and color unknown.”
The controller also told the reporting pilot, “It definitely wasn’t nothing.”
Airport operations workers searched the area after the reports. They did not locate the drone. Local and federal authorities received notification while the departure pause continued for about 20 minutes.
The reports established what the crews saw, not where the aircraft came from or who operated it. No arrests were announced.
The FBI described its broader role in investigating illegal drone activity. The agency did not comment on this specific incident.
“While we do not have a comment on specific incidents, the FBI works with our federal and local law enforcement partners to detect, track, and investigate illegal drone activity that could potentially threaten aviation safety, critical infrastructure, or public safety.”
The runway reports came from tightly restricted airspace
The airport operates in highly restricted airspace near the center of the US capital. Reagan National sits just miles from the White House, the Capitol, and the Pentagon.
Drones are generally prohibited in the area without FAA approval. That restriction covers unauthorized operations near the airport, including flights that could affect aircraft using its runways.
The temporary halt followed two independent cockpit reports near Runway 19. The subsequent search produced no located drone, leaving the sightings unresolved.
The agency’s monthly figure includes reports of drone sightings near airports. In this incident, workers searched after pilots raised the alarm but found no aircraft.
The airport’s proximity to major federal sites adds sensitivity to reports in its surrounding airspace. The reported object was not located during the response, and authorities did not announce an arrest.
The departure pause therefore centered on a precautionary response to two crew reports. The available account identifies the runway, the flight from Tulsa, and the second report from a New Jersey-bound aircraft, but not a confirmed drone location.
The FBI said its federal and local partners work to detect, track, and investigate illegal drone activity when it could threaten aviation safety, critical infrastructure, or public safety. The September 17 incident began with two brief sightings and ended without a drone found by airport workers.
