Aircraft remained grounded at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in Arlington, Virginia, on Friday as a nationwide flight suspension disrupted US air travel following widespread air traffic control communications problems.
Footage shows aeroplanes parked on the tarmac, with others waiting amid the departures freeze.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) ordered all departing flights across the country to remain grounded until further notice, citing "extraordinary circumstances and for reasons of safety."
US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy attributed the shutdown to a communications failure affecting regional air traffic control centres nationwide, adding that technicians were investigating the issue.
Aircraft already airborne were permitted to land, while incoming international flights were to be handled on a case-by-case basis.
Nearly 7,000 flights were reportedly delayed or cancelled across the United States on Friday.
The disruption marked the first nationwide ground stop since January 2023, when a malfunction in the FAA's flight notification system temporarily halted domestic departures.
