FAA Grounds Flights at Four DC-Area Airports Over Chemical Odor

The Federal Aviation Administration imposed a ground stop at four major airports serving the Washington, D.C., Baltimore and Richmond, Virginia areas on Friday evening, halting flights for more than an hour due to a strong chemical smell that disrupted air traffic controllers at a key regional facility.

The affected airports included Ronald Reagan Washington National, Washington Dulles International, Baltimore-Washington International and Richmond International. The issue originated at the Potomac Consolidated Terminal Radar Approach Control, or TRACON, in Virginia, which manages airspace for dozens of airports across the region, including the Washington, D.C., Baltimore and Richmond areas. FAA officials stated that the odor forced some controllers to stop work, leading to the temporary suspension of arrivals and departures to ensure safety.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced the ground stop on social media shortly after the incident began in the late afternoon. "FAANews is working to address the source of a strong odor coming from Potomac TRACON that is impacting operations," Duffy wrote in a post listing the affected airports. The FAA issued a statement confirming...