Storms Disrupt Flights at Baltimore-Washington Airport

Ground stop and delays impact travelers at BWI-Marshall Airport

Mar. 17, 2026 at 5:33am

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Severe storms that passed through the Baltimore region on Monday led to a ground stop and numerous flight delays and cancellations at Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI-Marshall). The airport issued a ground stop for a period of time, causing disruptions for travelers trying to depart and arrive at the airport.

Why it matters

BWI-Marshall is a major regional airport serving the Baltimore-Washington metropolitan area, and any disruptions to flight operations can have a significant impact on travelers. Severe weather events like this highlight the challenges airports face in managing air traffic and passenger flow during unexpected situations.

The details

The ground stop was implemented by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in response to the storms passing through the area. This meant that flights were not able to take off or land at BWI-Marshall for a period of time. While flights were still arriving and departing, many were delayed or canceled, leading to frustration for passengers. Some travelers reported having their flights changed multiple times due to the disruptions.

  • The ground stop was issued around 4:30 p.m. on Monday, March 17, 2026.
  • The ground stop was eventually lifted around 4:30 p.m. the same day.

The players

Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI-Marshall)

A major airport serving the Baltimore-Washington metropolitan area, handling over 25 million passengers annually.

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)

The U.S. government agency responsible for the regulation and oversight of civil aviation.

Dawnyell Bowen

A traveler passing through BWI-Marshall who experienced multiple flight delays and cancellations due to the storms.

Adrien Brezinsky

A traveler passing through BWI-Marshall who also experienced flight changes as a result of the storms and ground stop.

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What they’re saying

“I was actually in Memphis, and I had a flight that was canceled after being delayed for multiple hours. They put me on another flight for today that was supposed to come up here at noon that got delayed. I just landed, and now the flight for today that I'm on to go to Orlando tonight is delayed again.”

— Dawnyell Bowen, Traveler (WBAL-TV 11 News)

“Thankfully my brother is here, so we got to hang out at his house.”

— Adrien Brezinsky, Traveler (WBAL-TV 11 News)

What’s next

The airport and FAA will continue to monitor the weather and work to resume normal flight operations as soon as possible.

The takeaway

This incident highlights the significant impact that severe weather can have on air travel, underscoring the importance of airports and airlines having robust contingency plans in place to minimize disruptions and support affected passengers.