DC-Area Airports Grounded After Chemical Smell at TRACON Facility

Washington Area Grounded Following TRACON Alert

The Federal Aviation Administration initiated a ground stop for Washington-area airports including Reagan National and Dulles International at 5:30 p.m. ET on Friday, March 13, due to a strong chemical smell at the Potomac Consolidated TRACON facility in Warrenton, Virginia. The incident forced controllers to temporarily vacate the building, affecting airspace over Baltimore-Washington and Richmond-Charlottesville regions. Firefighters from Fauquier and Prince William counties confirmed no ongoing danger after identifying an overheated circuit board as the source.

Delays Expected Through Weekend

While the ground stop lifted around 7 p.m., flights were delayed or rebooked, with ripple effects expected through Saturday evening. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy stated that controllers have returned to work following the replacement of the faulty component, and no injuries were reported during the evacuation. Airlines advised passengers to monitor status updates as approximately 25% of departures faced disruptions during the peak travel period.