March 13, 2026 — Warrenton, Va. A ground stop was issued at Reagan National (DCA), Dulles (IAD), BWI, and Richmond airports due to a strong chemical smell at the FAA’s Potomac TRACON facility, halting departures and causing widespread delays during the evening rush.
The incident began around 4:50 p.m. ET at the Potomac Terminal Radar Approach Control facility in Warrenton, Virginia, which oversees airspace for the Washington, D.C., Baltimore, and Richmond areas. Air traffic controllers reported the odor, leading to a temporary facility closure and evacuation of staff.
FAA Response and Investigation
The FAA confirmed a “strong chemical smell at the Potomac TRACON that is impacting some air traffic controllers,” according to an agency statement cited in reports. More than 30 employees were evaluated by emergency responders and a HAZMAT team, with no injuries reported.
U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced the ground stop on X:
🚨BREAKING🚨 GROUND STOP CURRENTLY AT THE FOLLOWING AIRPORTS:
⚠️ Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA)
⚠️ Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD)
⚠️ Baltimore-Washington International Airport (BWI)
⚠️ Richmond International Airport (RIC)@FAANews is working to address the source of a strong odor coming from Potomac TRACON that is impacting operations at the three airports.
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Some sources, including CNN, reported the smell stemmed from an overheated circuit board that was replaced, while others noted the cause remained under investigation.
Impact on Flights and Passengers
The ground stops affected departures at the four main airports, with airborne flights diverted or held. FlightAware data showed over 325 delays at DCA (34% of flights), more than 200 at IAD, and 180 at BWI. Cancellations increased into the evening, stranding passengers during spring break travel.
Passengers like Kristen Rodrigues described waiting two hours on the runway without updates, while Jamie Gangel noted people relying on phones for information amid an “air traffic control issue.”
Resolution and Aftermath
Ground stops were lifted after about one to three hours, with controllers relocated to a training facility operating at reduced capacity, per CNBC. Secretary Duffy later updated that “the smell was traced to a circuit board that had overheated and was subsequently replaced.”
Operations resumed by early evening, though delays averaged 90 minutes as of 9:30 p.m. ET. The InsideNova reported no ongoing issues and confirmed no injuries at the Vint Hill facility.
For related aviation disruptions, see Aeronautics Online sitemap.
