Washington Halloween Air Force One flyover halts Reagan airport traffic, delays 202 flights

A White House flyover by the US presidential airplane during a children's Halloween party on Thursday evening delayed dozens of flights and drew complaints from city lawmakers in the nation's capital. The plane, designated Air Force One when President Donald Trump is on board, made two lower-than-normal passes around the White House while Trump hosted the party; the White House posted video of the flyover, calling it "an epic Air Force One flyover at the White House for the trick-or-treaters!"

Airport disruption

The flyover prompted the Federal Aviation Administration to temporarily halt traffic at nearby Reagan Washington National Airport, and the plane also flew over nearby Washington neighborhoods. Some passengers flying to Washington reported their planes were forced to circle or faced delays. Flight tracking site FlightAware said 26% of departing flights and 17% of arriving flights were delayed on Thursday — 202 in total — with most of those delays tied to the airport disruption.

Only 15 minutes' notice

The District of Columbia Council said in a social media post that only 15 minutes' notice was provided before the flyover "to anyone in downtown DC, at the Pentagon, or at National Airport. It startled many, including us." Airline officials said they had less than an hour's notice. Trump is a fan of Air Force One flyovers, which often happen at major sporting events he attends.