Disaster at Dulles? No, Just a Drill

Dulles International Airport will simulate a jetliner accident - complete with victims and fire - on Saturday.

  If you see smoke and helicopters in the direction of Dulles International Airport on Saturday, don't be alarmed. The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority is conducting an emergency preparedness exercise from 8:30 a.m. to about noon. The drill will include a simulated aircraft accident that will test the airport’s emergency plan and provide hands-on training to airport and mutual aid emergency response personnel, an airport spokesman said. The drill will take place on a closed runway and will not affect normal airport operations. But it will include the following elements to simulate the realism of an actual emergency: *  A widebody United Airlines jet aircraft on the runway * A trainer aircraft that will be lit on fire, producing …

• Photos (1)

United Offering New Service Out of Dulles

United Airlines has added weekly non-stop flights from Dulles to two Central American cities.

United Airlines last week began offering non-stop flights from Washington-Dulles International Airport to three Central American cities. The airline began offering the flights Saturday to Guatemala City, Guatemala and San Jose, Costa Rica. "These new flights strengthen United's Latin American route network and provide more convenient travel options for our customers," said Millie Uriarte, director, Latin America Onshore & Caribbean Sales. More than 630,000 people living in Virginia are of Hispanic origin, according to Creciendo Juntos; of those, it's estimated 34 percent are foreign-born, according to the Web site.

• Photos (1)

Dulles, Reagan National Flight Delays Due to Snow, Rain

Snow in the Midwest and rain across the Southeast Friday and Saturday mean hundreds of flight delays and cancelations.

Snow from Chicago to Kansas City and heavy rain in the South mean flight delays and cancelations at both Dulles International Airport (IAD) and Reagan National Airport (DCA) Friday. Check for flight delays and cancelations here. As of 11:15 a.m. Friday, delays in Chicago had largely cleared up, but delays in Kansas City, St. Louis and other areas of the Midwest were increasing. Several flights to the STL and KCI airports have been canceled.  Those delays are affecting some flights into and out of Dulles International and Reagan National airports.  Airlines are strongly recommending you check your flight's status prior to leaving for the airport.  Here is contact information for airlines serving IAD and DCA. Snow is falling in the Chicago …

• Photos (1)

Dulles Airport Sees Record-Breaking 72 Degrees Wednesday

Nighttime heavy rains dump 3.5 inches to some parts of western Fairfax County.

The wild weather this week brought springlike temperatures to the area, breaking records at Washington Dulles International Airport, which saw a high Wednesday of 72 degrees. The record-breaking temperature was official set Wednesday afternoon, according to the National Weather Service. Previously the record was 70 degrees, set in 2002. The normal temperature for Jan. 30 is 43 degrees. Fairfax County was under a tornado watch until 2 a.m. Thursday. Some areas saw as much as 3.5 inches of rain Wednesday night. Friday weather is expected to return to winter temperatures with highs in the 40s. Fairfax County is under a Wind Advisory until 6 p.m. Thursday with gusts of up to 50 MPH expected. Forecasters say there is a 50 percent chance of snow…

• Photos (1)

Dulles Airport Under Consideration as FBI Headquarters

Officials from Fairfax, Loudoun, Prince William and Stafford counties met Thursday in Arlington to discuss six potential sites Thursday.

Local, state and congressional leaders met Thursday in Arlington to discuss six potential sites for a new FBI headquarters, including Washington Dulles Airport and to present a unified front in their commitment to landing the new federal complex somewhere in Northern Virginia. Democrat U.S. Rep. Jim Moran, who called the meeting, said leaders from Fairfax, Loudoun, Prince William and Stafford counties had a "singular focus" in bringing the FBI headquarters to the Old Dominion. "We're all committed to finding a home for the FBI in the commonwealth of Virginia," Moran said during a news conference following the meeting. "We are all going to promote Virginia as the best place for this relocation." Arlington's role was simply as host. It has …

•  2 Comments
• Photos (19)

Lost Dog from Egypt that Escaped at Dulles Reunited with Owners

Dog flown from Egypt to Washington Dulles International escaped two weeks ago.

One area family got their Christmas wish. Ralph, the dog from Egypt flown to Washington Dulles International Airport who escaped after landing, has been reunited with its owners, a couple from Germantown, Md., according to a news report Tuesday night on NBC 4. On Christmas Eve, Ralph was reunited with the family that brought him to the area, NBC 4 reported. The dog was missing for nearly two weeks. After making the long flight from Egypt, the dog escaped Dec. 12 after landing at Dulles.  See also: Dog Rescued from Egyptian Streets on the Loose After Landing at Dulles

• Photos (3)

Photos: Washington Dulles International Airport Turns 50

Take a look behind the scenes with Patch.

So much has happened to Washington Dulles International Airport since President John F. Kennedy dedicated it in 1962. The airport, which is located on 12,000 acres in Chantilly, recently experienced a multi-million dollar expansion, which will bring a new Metrorail system, a fourth runway, expanded gates and buildings and a new airport traffic control tower. About 23 million travelers visit Dulles Airport annually, and the eventual addition of a metro line will introduce it to millions of potential flyers.  The main terminal is unmistakable (architect Eero Saarinen called it the best building he'd ever designed) and as such has appeared in movies like "Airport," "Die Hard II" and "Body of Lies." 

•  2 Comments
• Photos (22)

James Cullum

10:54 pm on Wednesday, December 19, 2012

Thanks Joy! It was a lot of fun to photograph this place behind closed doors.   more ›

Dulles Investigates Bomb Threat Monday Night

Airport security is sweeping Parking Garages 1 and 2 Monday night.

UPDATE: 12:15 a.m. According to @dcairports, the official Twitter account for the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority: "All #IAD Dulles facilities are open and operating normally. Check w/your airline in the event of residual flight delays. Final update."  --- Dulles International Airport security personnel were busy sweeping parking garages Monday night, after a bomb threat was reportedly called in to the airport, according to spokeswoman Kimberly Gibbs. "I believe it was a phone-in threat," said Gibbs, who works for the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority. "We are inspecting the garages at Dulles right now," she said, noting that Parking Garages 1 and 2 were being scrutinized. Gibbs noted that the FBI will likely also …

• Photos (1)

Dulles Airport Sees 500M Passenger Milestone

The 500 millionth passenger was estimated to have passed through the Dulles International Airport around noon Friday, June 15.

The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority and Dulles International Airport threw a surprise party for the passengers waiting to board United Airlines flight No. 1172 on Friday, June 15, in celebration of the airport's 500 millionth passenger. The party included cake, beverages and an extra suprise for a lucky passenger, according to an MWAA press release. The airport opened in 1962 and United Airlines has had a hub at Dulles for 25 years. One traveler on the flight was selected as the person to receive the symbolic honor of being passenger number 500 million. The Los Angeles-bound passenger and his wife were presented with a framed picture of the iconic airport terminal, designed by Eero Saarinen, as well as a parking voucher good for…

• Photos (1)

Dulles Airport Tests Hologram Assistant

The life-size hologram, Paige, gives international passengers assistance as they navigate through customs.