Flights at several major airports in the Washington, D.C., region were briefly halted on Friday evening due to a strong chemical smell at the Potomac TRACON, the air traffic control facility that manages arrivals and departures for the area. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued a ground stop affecting Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Washington Dulles International Airport, Baltimore-Washington International Airport, Charlottesville–Albemarle Airport, and Richmond International Airport.
The Potomac TRACON, a terminal radar approach control facility, experienced the odor, prompting the temporary halt. FAA spokeswoman Kristen Alsop stated that controllers were returning to work and normal operations were expected to resume shortly.
This incident marks the second time this month that flights have been suspended due to a chemical smell at the same facility. Earlier in March, a similar ground stop lasting about an hour occurred after a strong odor was traced to a circuit, according to Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy. Operations resumed after firefighters confirmed no danger to air traffic controllers.
