Trending Now - Ground Stops Lifted at DC Airports After Chemical Odor Incident
WHO:
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy
Chief Kalvyn Smith from Fauquier County Fire Rescue System
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)
FAA Secretary Sean Duffy
Potomac TRACON (Terminal Radar Approach Control)
WHAT:
A circuit board that overheated was identified as the cause of the strong odor at Potomac TRACON, according to Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy.
Some employees at the Potomac TRACON experienced “mild symptoms” but none required transport to a local hospital.
A strong chemical smell caused a temporary halt to flights at four major airports.
The ground stop lasted for over an hour.
Flight delays soared to roughly two hours across the affected airports.
Between 25% and one-third of all flights departing from the four airports were delayed.
Ground stops were lifted at 7:45 p.m. ET, but delays remained in effect for up to 3 hours or more.
WHERE:
Potomac Consolidated Terminal RADAR Approach Control (TRACON) located in Warrenton, Virginia, approximately 50 miles outside of Washington, D.C.
Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA)
Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD)
Baltimore-Washington International Airport (BWI)
Richmond International Airport
Potomac TRACON located in Warrenton, Virginia
WHEN:
Ground stops were originally in effect around 5:30 p.m. ET on March 13th, 2026.
The incident occurred on Friday evening, March 13th, 2026.
Flights began to leave the airports after 7 p.m. ET on March 13th, 2026.
Ground stops were expected to remain in place until 7 p.m. ET on March 13th, 2026.
WHY:
The strong chemical smell was reported to be coming from the Potomac TRACON facility, affecting air traffic controllers.
HOW:
Crews from Fauquier County Fire Rescue and Prince William County’s hazardous materials team responded to the incident after reports of a strong chemical smell.
The FAA issued a ground stop to manage air traffic safely during the incident.
(UPDATED March 14, 2026 05:21 UTC)
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced that an overheating circuit board was the cause of a strong odor at the Potomac TRACON in Warrenton, Virginia, where some employees experienced mild symptoms but none required hospitalization. Ground stops were put in place around 5:30 p.m. ET last Monday as crews from Fauquier County Fire Rescue and Prince William County's hazardous materials team responded to the incident. The facility is located approximately 50 miles outside of Washington, D.C.
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(UPDATED March 14, 2026 01:25 UTC)
Last Friday evening, a strong chemical smell emanating from the Potomac TRACON facility led the FAA to issue a ground stop, temporarily halting flights at Ronald Reagan Washington National, Washington Dulles International, Baltimore-Washington International, and Richmond International airports. The ground stop lasted over an hour, causing flight delays that soared to roughly two hours, with between 25% and one-third of all departing flights affected. Although the ground stops were lifted at 7:45 p.m. ET, delays continued for up to three hours or more as flights resumed.