Flight service at Ronald Reagan National Airport will be suspended in the evening for July 4 military plane flyovers, the Federal Aviation Administration said.
Operations will be suspended from 6:15 p.m. to 7:45 p.m. for the flyovers and between 9 p.m. and 9:45 p.m. for fireworks, but medical and emergency flights will be authorized as necessary, according to the FAA press release.
"Hopefully, at worst it's a delay," said Joseph Bishop-Henchman, whose Fourth of July flight home to D.C. from California is affected. "Maybe they'll divert us to Dulles or something, which is not enjoyable."
He was looking forward to flying into Reagan as the fireworks show was going on.
"On one hand, this is the price we pay for living in the nation's capital, but on the other hand, why is this all being done at the last minute?" Bishop-Henchman said. "It's very frustrating."
Air traffic at Reagan has been stopped in the past for flyovers, but it has never been stopped for fireworks. The reason the fireworks are interfering this year is because they've been moved to West Potomac Park, which is closer to the flight path.
To see if your flight is affected, check with your individual airline.
Local
Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia local news, events and information
Operations at Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall (BWI) and Dulles International will not be affected.
Air Force One, the U.S. Navy’s Blue Angels and planes from all five branches of the military will fly over the National Mall Thursday as part of President Donald Trump’s elaborate Salute to America celebration.
