WASHINGTON, March 13 – Air travel across the Washington, D.C., region experienced significant disruption Friday evening after a strong chemical smell forced authorities to halt flights at 4 major airports for more than an hour. Officials said the smell affected a key air traffic control facility, creating safety concerns that prevented controllers from effectively managing aircraft movement in one of the busiest airspaces in the United States.
According to the FAA, the ground stop impacted Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Washington Dulles International Airport, Baltimore Washington International Airport, and Richmond International Airport. The pause in operations was implemented during the early evening hours, causing delays to quickly build across the regional aviation network.
The FAA explained that air traffic controllers working at the Potomac Terminal Radar Approach Control facility, commonly known as Potomac TRACON, reported a strong chemical smell inside the building. The facility is responsible for guiding aircraft in and out of several major airports across Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia. Because controllers rely on constant communication and radar monitoring to coordinate aircraft movements, any disruption to their working environment can significantly affect the safety of flight operations.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy confirmed the ground stop through a public statement on social media Friday evening. He noted that the situation required immediate action to ensure safety while officials worked to understand the source of the smell and assess whether the facility could continue operating normally.
Potomac TRACON plays a crucial role in managing air traffic throughout the Mid Atlantic region. The facility handles the complex task of directing aircraft during the approach and departure phases of flight, which are considered among the most demanding segments of aviation operations. Controllers coordinate with pilots to maintain safe distances between aircraft while guiding planes along designated routes toward their destinations.
When the chemical smell was detected, officials determined that controllers might not be able to perform their duties safely under the conditions. As a precaution, a ground stop was issued. A ground stop prevents aircraft from landing at affected airports and in many cases also pauses departing flights until normal operations can resume.
As the halt went into effect, flight delays rapidly spread across the region’s aviation system. Aviation tracking services reported that roughly one quarter to one third of departing flights at the 4 affected airports were delayed. Some passengers experienced delays approaching 2 hours as aircraft waited for clearance to depart or land.
Airports in the Washington area are among the most heavily traveled in the country, serving millions of passengers each year. Reagan National Airport handles a large volume of domestic flights because of its proximity to downtown Washington. Dulles International Airport is a major hub for both domestic and international travel. Baltimore Washington International Airport serves as a key airport for the broader Maryland region, while Richmond International Airport provides access for travelers in central Virginia.
Because these airports share the same air traffic control network, disruptions at Potomac TRACON can quickly ripple across the entire system. Aviation experts often point out that the Washington metropolitan area contains one of the most complex airspaces in the United States due to its dense traffic and security restrictions surrounding the nation’s capital.
Flights gradually began departing again after approximately 7:00 PM ET on Friday. However, the FAA indicated that the ground stop for incoming flights remained in place for some time afterward while officials continued evaluating the situation inside the control facility.
At the time of the disruption, authorities had not publicly identified the exact source of the chemical smell. A spokesperson for the FAA did not immediately respond to requests for clarification regarding how the smell was affecting controllers or what type of substance may have been involved.
Emergency and safety personnel were reportedly working to assess the air quality inside the facility and determine whether the environment posed any risk to employees. Standard aviation safety procedures require that any situation potentially affecting controller performance be addressed immediately, since controllers must remain fully alert while directing aircraft in crowded airspace.
Incidents involving air traffic control facilities are relatively rare, but when they occur they can cause widespread disruption. Because a single radar approach control center manages aircraft for multiple airports, any interruption at the facility can force airlines to delay or reroute flights until backup procedures are implemented.
Passengers traveling through the affected airports Friday evening reported long waits at gates and on aircraft as crews awaited clearance to continue operations. Airline staff worked to update travelers while monitoring instructions from aviation authorities.
Despite the delays, aviation officials emphasized that the temporary halt was implemented as a precaution designed to protect both passengers and flight crews. Ensuring that air traffic controllers can operate in a safe and stable environment remains one of the aviation system’s highest priorities.
By late evening, flights were gradually returning to normal schedules, although delays continued to affect some routes as airlines worked through the backlog created by the earlier shutdown.