March 13, 2026 — Vint Hill, Virginia A ground stop issued at Reagan National Airport (DCA) and other DC-area airports due to a strong chemical smell at an FAA facility here halted departures around 5:30 p.m. Friday, disrupting flights across the Washington region amid reports of a potent odor at the Potomac Consolidated TRACON.
The incident affected Reagan National (DCA), Dulles International (IAD), Baltimore-Washington International (BWI), Richmond International (RIC), Charlottesville-Albemarle (CHO) and Manassas Regional airports, with Philadelphia International (PHL) under a ground delay, according to multiple reports.
Cause and Emergency Response
The strong chemical smell originated from faulty equipment at the TRACON facility near Warrenton in Fauquier County. Sources differed slightly: Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy stated it stemmed from an overheated circuit board that was replaced, while WJLA reported a faulty building monitor serviced by a contractor.
Hazmat teams from Fauquier and Prince William counties responded, evaluating more than 30 FAA workers, none of whom required hospitalization, per CNN and WJLA.
Resolution and Delays
The ground stop lifted between 7 and 7:45 p.m. ET, but delays persisted for hours, averaging 90 minutes to over three hours at major hubs. Cancellations reached 136 at DCA, over 40 each at IAD and BWI, with ripple effects expected into Saturday due to crew limitations.
UPDATE: The ground stop is over and operations have resumed. Firefighters from Fauquier County and Prince William County confirm there is no danger to air traffic controllers, and they are returning to the Potomac TRACON. The source of the strong odor was traced to a circuit board that overheated, and it was replaced.
The FAA attributed the issue to the odor affecting controllers.
Passenger Impact
Travelers faced significant disruptions, including hours on tarmacs and at gates. One passenger reported three hours without updates, while others missed connections during peak spring travel, per CNN.
This ground stop issued at Reagan National Airport (DCA) and other DC-area airports due to a strong chemical smell at an FAA facility highlights vulnerabilities in air traffic control infrastructure. For related aviation news, see Aeronautics Online sitemap.
