Flights delayed at BWI, DC airports due to "strong chemical smell" at air traffic control center

Three major airports in the Baltimore, DC region, including Baltimore Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI), went under a ground stop Friday afternoon, affecting hundreds of flights and thousands of travelers.

The ground stop was lifted Friday evening. 

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reported that the stop was due to a strong smell coming from Potomac TRACON, responsible for air traffic control services to Baltimore and other regional airports.

The FAA confirmed the groundstop with WJZ on Friday, stating, "The FAA has temporarily stopped traffic at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA), Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD), and Baltimore-Washington International Airport (BWI) because of a strong chemical smell at the Potomac TRACON that is impacting some air traffic controllers."

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy posted on X that there was no danger to air traffic controllers, according to firefighters from Fauquier County and Prince William County. 

Duffy said the source of the odor was traced to a circuit board that overheated which has since been replaced. In the same post, the Secretary announced ground stop was over and operations had resumed.  

Many travelers were uncertain when they could catch their flights home.

"They just keep delaying it," said Maggy Osha, on her way home to San Francisco. "I don't know how long it will be delayed for...but it's super frustrating that now it's going to land at 3 a.m., so now I won't get any sleep."

While frustrations persist, WJZ's Bryant Reed saw that TSA lines moved rapidly once the FAA changed the status, and although there are delays, flights resumed at BWI.

Any traveler affected by the delays should monitor the FAA website or their airlines for updated flight status information and further updates.