American Airlines flight seen deboarding at Reagan tarmac during severe thunderstorm watch

ARLINGTON, Va. — Passengers could be seen deboarding an American Airlines flight onto the tarmac at Reagan National Airport, Thursday afternoon, during a severe thunderstorm watch.

The exits were a reaction to extended weather delays at DCA, an American Airlines official confirmed to WUSA9. The average departure delay at Reagan was 1 hour and 45 minutes, and increasing, as of 5:30 p.m., according to the Federal Aviation Administration.

A video of the deplaning filmed by Reddit user "LexSlings" shows passengers walking down steps and onto the DCA runway.

After deplaning, passengers returned to the airport terminal, an American Airlines official said.

The procedure often employed during severe weather is known as a "time out." According to a Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority o