March 13, 2026 — Warrenton, Virginia Flights at three DC-area airports halted for hours due to a “strong odor” at air traffic control center, the FAA announced, impacting operations at Ronald Reagan Washington National (DCA), Dulles International (IAD) and Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall (BWI) airports, with Richmond International (RIC) also affected.
The ground stop, lasting about three hours until around 8 p.m. ET, stemmed from a faulty circuit board that overheated at the Potomac Consolidated TRACON facility here, which provides radar approach control for the region. No injuries or safety risks were reported after the board was replaced and firefighters from Fauquier and Prince William counties cleared the site.
Official Response
DOT Secretary Sean Duffy posted 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.
Local reporter Tom Roussey cited the FAA:
The FAA says it has temporarily stopped traffic at all three major local airports (BWI, DCA, Dulles) due to “a strong chemical smell at the Potomac TRACON that is impacting some air traffic controllers.”
Homa Bash echoed the FAA statement on the strong chemical smell.
Resolution and Aftermath
Operations resumed by 8 p.m. ET after replacement of the circuit board. Secretary Duffy later confirmed:
The source of the strong odor was traced to a circuit board that overheated, and it was replaced. Firefighters from Fauquier County and Prince William County confirm there is no danger to air traffic controllers.
Delays persisted, averaging over 3.5 hours at DCA, with ripple effects including diverted flights and crew displacements, per Roussey updates.
Broader Context
The incident exacerbated disruptions during peak spring break travel, compounded by TSA delays from a government shutdown. Coverage aligned across outlets like WTOP, NBC News, USA Today and WBAL-TV, confirming flights at three DC-area airports halted for hours due to a “strong odor” at air traffic control center as the lead event.
