Bomb Threat Caller Demands $500K Crypto Before United Flight Lands Safely at D.C. Airport

Authorities temporarily shut down operations at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) on November 4, 2025, after a caller claimed United Airlines Flight 512 would explode upon landing unless $500,000 in cryptocurrency was paid. The flight, arriving from Houston, landed safely, and all 89 passengers were evacuated without injuries.

According to The Washington Post, the caller phoned the air traffic control tower at DCA, threatening that the Boeing 737-8 carrying 89 people would detonate if his ransom demand was not met. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) immediately closed the runway for more than an hour while emergency protocols were activated.

Audio recordings from LiveATC.net captured the tense moment controllers redirected the aircraft. “We have an unconfirmed bomb report for your flight — we’ve got to get you away from the airport,” an air traffic controller told the United pilots. Moments later, he added, “Someone called and said there was a bomb on [United flight] 512. They said if it landed, it would explode — well, it landed.”

United Airlines confirmed that all passengers safely deplaned on the tarmac and were transported by bus to the terminal while law enforcement conducted a full inspection. “The flight landed safely at DCA, passengers were evacuated, and law enforcement conducted a full search of the aircraft,” wrote Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy on X (formerly Twitter).

The Department of Transportation and the FAA coordinated with airport security and local law enforcement during the investigation. After thorough screening, officials declared the aircraft and surrounding areas safe. Reagan National Airport later posted on X that “several flights were diverted to other airports during the runway closure” and advised travelers to expect ongoing delays.

The runway reopened around 12:50 p.m. local time after approximately 80 minutes of closure. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) confirmed that its Washington Field Office’s National Capital Response Squad responded to the scene, stating, “No hazards were found. The FBI continues to work with our law enforcement partners on this investigation.”

The incident caused widespread disruption to flights across the D.C. area and briefly raised the national threat awareness level for civil aviation security. Although authorities have not revealed the identity or location of the caller, investigators are tracing the phone source and digital communications related to the ransom demand.

United Airlines thanked its crew and local responders for their professionalism and swift actions during the emergency. No evidence of explosives or hazardous materials was found on board, and operations at the airport have since returned to normal. 

Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, yahoo.com