March 13, 2026 — Warrenton, Virginia The FAA ground stop disrupts flights at Reagan National, Dulles, BWI, and other DC-area airports due to chemical odor at Potomac TRACON, stemming from a strong chemical smell at the Potomac Terminal Radar Approach Control (TRACON) facility here, which was later traced to an overheated circuit board. The incident prompted roughly three-hour ground stops at Ronald Reagan Washington National (DCA), Washington Dulles International (IAD), Baltimore-Washington International (BWI), and Richmond International (RIC) airports.
The disruptions caused widespread delays exceeding 90 minutes at DCA and IAD, over 60 minutes at BWI, some flight cancellations, and passengers held at gates or rechecking bags, as reported by multiple outlets including WTOP News and WJLA.
Cause and Immediate Response
A “strong chemical smell” forced the temporary closure of the TRACON facility, prompting a response from HAZMAT teams and the local fire department, according to WBAL-TV and Fox Business. The FAA ground stop disrupts flights at Reagan National, Dulles, BWI, and other DC-area airports due to chemical odor at Potomac TRACON after the odor was identified as coming from faulty equipment, specifically an overheated circuit board.
Over 30 FAA staff members were evaluated and cleared by medical personnel, with operations resuming later that evening once the site was deemed safe.
Official Statements
U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced the ground stops on X, noting they affected DCA, IAD, BWI, and RIC due to the odor at Potomac TRACON and providing a link to check flight statuses. CNBC and Reuters confirmed the lifts of the ground stops.
The incident was unrelated to the ongoing DHS shutdown, with residual delays persisting into March 14, 2026.
Broader Coverage
Reports from CBS News Baltimore, The New York Times, and journalists on X, including NBC4 Washington and others, aligned on the FAA ground stop disrupts flights at Reagan National, Dulles, BWI, and other DC-area airports due to chemical odor at Potomac TRACON, emphasizing the technical failure and quick resolution.
