Credit...Kent Nishimura for The New York Times
Chemical Smell at Control Center Halts Traffic at Washington and Baltimore Airports
The ground stops, which also affected the airport serving Richmond, Va., were expected to last until at least 7 p.m., according the F.A.A., which said the smell had affected air traffic controllers.
by https://www.nytimes.com/by/rylee-kirk · NY TimesThe Federal Aviation Administration issued a ground stop for the three major airports serving Washington, D.C., and Baltimore on Friday, citing a strong chemical smell that it said was affecting air traffic controllers.
Flight traffic was stopped around 4:50 p.m. at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Washington Dulles International Airport and Baltimore-Washington International Airport, according to the F.A.A.’s website.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said on social media that the ground stop also included Richmond International Airport.
The ground stops were issued because of a “strong chemical smell at the Potomac TRACON that is impacting some air traffic controllers,” an F.A.A. representative said in an email, referring to a regional center in Warrenton, Va., that directs traffic headed to and from the Washington area.
Mr. Duffy said the F.A.A. was trying to pinpoint the source of “a strong odor” coming from the Potomac TRACON.
Flights are expected to resume around 7 p.m., according to the F.A.A.’s website. Flights at the Richmond airport are expected to resume at 7:15 p.m., the agency said.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.