Residual delays following the order were expected for all affected airports
Credit: Drew ANGERER / AFP via Getty
NEED TO KNOW
- A strong odor grounded flights in the D.C. area as crews worked to determine the source
- United States Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy confirmed the incident on social media
- Four airports were affected, and substantial delays were expected once the advisory was lifted
A ground stop at D.C.-area airports have been lifted after a strong chemical smell impacted air traffic controllers.
“The ground stop is over and operations have resumed,” United States Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy announced on X Friday, March 13 just before 9 p.m. local time.
Hours earlier he listed Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA), Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD), Baltimore-Washington International Airport (BWI) and Richmond International Airport (RIC) as the affected airports.
PEOPLE reached out to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for comment, but did not immediately receive a response.
In Duffy’s initial statement, he said the agency was “working to address the source of a strong odor coming from Potomac TRACON that is impacting operations at the three airports.”
Once operations resumed, the Secretary of Transportation said firefighters from Fauquier County and Prince William County had confirmed there was no danger to air traffic controllers.
Duffy also shared the source of the strong odor, which was “a circuit board that overheated, and it was replaced.”
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The X account for Baltimore-Washington International Airport also provided an update as operations resumed at the airport.
“Airlines are once again resuming regular operations and preparing departures. Expect residual delays this evening,” the post advised.
Anyone with plans that involved flying through BWI on Friday were urged to confirm their flight status with their airlines for the latest available information.
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“Passengers were at the gate, charging their phones and waiting for news,” Grace Wilkins Maxwell, a passenger who was delayed at Washington Dulles International Airport told the New York Times.
“I’m not convinced anyone is leaving D.C. tonight,” she added.
Citing the FAA, the Times reported that flights at Dulles, Baltimore and Richmond airports could be delayed until around 1 a.m.
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