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Updated [9:40 PM ET]: Secretary Duffy has confirmed that the ground stop has been lifted, with regular airport activities back on track. He reassured the public that there was no danger posed. The cause of the disruption has also been identified: (emphasis added)
Original Story:
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy recently declared an unexpected “ground stop” affecting flights both arriving and departing from at least four major U.S. airports, as reported by multiple sources on Friday.
Duffy took to X to explain the reason behind the halt, citing “a strong odor” as the cause.
Further information from WBAL-TV sheds light on the current understanding of the situation, including a mention of “Potomac TRACON”:
UPDATE: The ground stop is over and operations have resumed.
Firefighters from Fauquier County and Prince William County confirm there is no danger to air traffic controllers, and they are returning to the Potomac TRACON. The source of the strong odor was traced to a circuit board that overheated, and it was replaced.
Thank you for your patience as we get flights up and running again @FAANews
original story
Secretary of Transportation Sec. Sean Duffy has announced a sudden “ground stop” of airplanes arriving and departing from at least four U.S. airports, according to several breaking reports on Friday:
🚨BREAKING🚨 GROUND STOP CURRENTLY AT THE FOLLOWING AIRPORTS:
⚠️ Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA)
⚠️ Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD)
⚠️ Baltimore-Washington International Airport (BWI)⁰⚠️ Richmond International Airport (RIC)@FAANews is working to…— Secretary Sean Duffy (@SecDuffy) March 13, 2026
Duffy made the announcement in an X post, which shares the reason for the stop, “a strong odor”:
BREAKING GROUND STOP CURRENTLY AT THE FOLLOWING AIRPORTS: Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) Baltimore-Washington International Airport (BWI) Richmond International Airport (RIC)
@FAANews is working to address the source of a strong odor coming from Potomac TRACON that is impacting operations at the three airports. For the most up to date information on your flight status, visit https://nasstatus.faa.gov
WBAL-TV has more details on what’s known right now about the stop, and the reference to “Potomac TRACON”:
A strong chemical smell that affected air traffic controllers prompted an hours-long ground stop at multiple airports, including Baltimore’s.
…
A ground delay is in effect until at least 12:59 a.m. Saturday, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.
Flight delays of more than an hour have been reported.
…
An FAA representative sent a statement to WBAL-TV 11 News at 6 p.m., referring to the Potomac Consolidated Terminal RADAR Approach Control (TRACON).
“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.”
The report notes that the emergency might affect smaller airports, as well:
Other airports along the East Coast also impacted included Washington Dulles International, Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Richmond International Airport, Philadelphia International Airport, Charlottesville Albemarle Airport, Manassas Regional Airport/Harry P. Davis Field and others.
This is a breaking story. RedState will provide updates as more information becomes available.