Update: The ground stop at Washington DC area airports has been lifted, and operations have resumed. The source of the strong chemical smell was traced to a circuit board that overheated and has been replaced.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued a ground stop at Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport, Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, and Washington Dulles International Airport on Friday due to a strong chemical smell detected at the Potomac traffic control facility.
The smell was impacting some air traffic controllers, and the FAA temporarily stopped traffic at the three airports. Transport Secretary Sean Duffy addressed the incident, stating that the FAA was working to address the source of the odor.
The stop was expected to last until 7 pm, but operations have since resumed. Independent journalist Nick Sortor reported that there was no word on what the substance in the air was.
The airports affected by the ground stop include Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport, Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, and Washington Dulles International Airport. Other airports in the DC area, such as Richmond International Airport and Philadelphia International Airport, were also impacted.
