FAA Grounds DC-Area Flights Over Chemical Odor

The Federal Aviation Administration issued ground stops Friday evening at several major airports serving the Washington, D.C., region after a strong chemical odor was reported at a key air traffic control facility in Virginia, disrupting flights for hundreds of passengers.

The ground stops, which began around 6:30 p.m., affected Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Washington Dulles International Airport, Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport, Charlottesville-Albemarle Airport and Richmond International Airport. Officials attributed the halts to the odor at the Potomac Consolidated Terminal Radar Approach Control facility, or TRACON, located in Warrenton, Virginia. The TRACON manages airspace over the region, including Joint Base Andrews and the listed airports, providing radar services for arrivals and departures.

An FAA spokesperson confirmed that the smell prompted a temporary evacuation of the facility and impacted some air traffic controllers, leading to the ground stops as a safety measure. Controllers were in the process of returning to their posts, and the agency stated that normal operations should resume shortly. By late evening, the ground...