March 13, 2026 — Warrenton, Va. The Federal Aviation Administration issued a ground stop at Reagan National (DCA), Dulles (IAD), BWI, and other DC-area airports due to strong chemical smell at Potomac TRACON, halting departures from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA), Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD), Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI), and Richmond International Airport (RIC) around 4:50 p.m. ET.
The odor at the Potomac Terminal Radar Approach Control (TRACON) facility impacted some air traffic controllers, prompting the precautionary measure, according to FAA representatives. No injuries were reported, and the issue was unrelated to security threats.
FAA Statement
“The FAA has temporarily stopped traffic at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA), Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) and Baltimore-Washington International Airport (BWI) because of a strong chemical smell at the Potomac TRACON that is impacting some air traffic controllers.”
Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy confirmed the ground stop at Reagan National (DCA), Dulles (IAD), BWI, and other DC-area airports due to strong chemical smell at Potomac TRACON, noting the agency was addressing the source.
Operational Impacts
Ground stops lasted until approximately 7 p.m. ET, with Richmond expected to resume at 7:15 p.m., per the FAA’s NAS status page. Delays persisted afterward, exceeding 90 minutes at IAD and rippling to Philadelphia International Airport (PHL).
Fox 5 DC’s Homa Bash reported the ground stop at BWI, DCA, and IAD due to the smell affecting controllers.
Investigation and Resolution
The FAA investigated the odor’s source at the Warrenton facility, which manages regional airspace for the Washington area. Operations resumed later that evening, though travelers faced ongoing delays. A ground stop at Reagan National (DCA), Dulles (IAD), BWI, and other DC-area airports due to strong chemical smell at Potomac TRACON was described as an isolated equipment or odor issue in multiple reports.
The New York Times detailed the halt’s effects on traffic to and from the region. KRCR-TV noted impacts extending to Richmond and Philadelphia.
Passengers were advised to check FlightAware or airline apps for updates during the disruption.
