Flights Halted at DC-Area Airports Due to Odor at Control Center

Ground stop issued at Reagan National, Dulles, and BWI airports amid air traffic control issue

Mar. 14, 2026 at 12:07am

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Flights were grounded at three major Washington, D.C. area airports on Friday night due to a 'strong odor' emanating from an air traffic control center, according to transportation officials. The Federal Aviation Administration is working to address the source of the odor impacting operations at Reagan National, Dulles, and Baltimore-Washington International airports.

Why it matters

Airport closures and flight groundings can cause major disruptions for travelers, leading to delays, cancellations, and difficulties rebooking flights. This incident highlights the critical role air traffic control centers play in managing air travel and the potential impacts when issues arise at these facilities.

The details

The ground stop was issued at Reagan National, Dulles, and BWI airports, as well as Richmond International Airport in Virginia. The 'strong odor' was reported coming from the Potomac Consolidated TRACON air traffic control facility, which provides services to the affected airports.

  • The ground stop was issued on Friday, March 14, 2026.

The players

Sean Duffy

The U.S. Transportation Secretary who issued the statement about the flight groundings.

Potomac Consolidated TRACON

The air traffic control facility that experienced the 'strong odor' issue, leading to the flight groundings at the nearby airports.

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What’s next

The FAA is working to determine the source of the odor and resolve the issue at the air traffic control center.

The takeaway

This incident underscores the critical importance of air traffic control operations and the potential for disruptions when problems arise at these facilities, which can have widespread impacts on air travel and travelers.