Mysterious odor disrupts DC-area airports.
For the second time this month, a mysterious odor has disrupted air travel in the Washington, D.C. area. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) temporarily halted flights Friday evening at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA), Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD), and Baltimore/Washington International Airport (BWI), among others, due to a “strong smell” reported at the Potomac Terminal Radar Approach Control (TRACON) facility.
The FAA said the disruptions were due to a “strong smell” at the Potomac Terminal Radar Approach Control (TRACON) facility, which manages airspace in the region. The source of the odor remains unclear. Ground stops were lifted around 8 p.m. ET, but delays persisted at Reagan National and BWI.
A similar incident occurred earlier this month, on March 13, when a chemical odor prompted a ground stop at the same airports. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy later attributed that smell to an overheated circuit board, which has since been replaced.
The recurrence of this issue raises concerns about the air quality and operational resilience of the Potomac TRACON facility, a critical hub for managing air traffic in the region. Further investigation is needed to identify the source of the odor and prevent future disruptions.
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