Several Northeast Airports Halt Traffic Due to Equipment Issues

Ground stops at major airports like Reagan National and Dulles caused by chemical smell at air traffic control center.

Mar. 13, 2026 at 10:03pm

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Several major airports in the Northeastern United States, including Baltimore-Washington International, Ronald Reagan Washington National, and Washington Dulles International, were forced to halt air traffic on Friday due to equipment outages, according to the Federal Aviation Administration. The FAA cited a strong chemical smell at the Potomac TRACON air traffic control facility as the cause, which was impacting some air traffic controllers.

Why it matters

Airport equipment failures and air traffic control issues can have widespread ripple effects, causing significant delays and disruptions for travelers across the region. This incident highlights the critical importance of maintaining robust and reliable airport infrastructure and air traffic management systems.

The details

The ground stops at the affected airports were expected to impact airspace from the East Coast through the Midwest. The FAA said there was a medium probability the ground stops would be extended. A separate ground stop was also in effect for Austin-Bergstrom International Airport due to staffing issues, while Seattle-Tacoma International Airport had briefly stopped arriving flights earlier in the day due to snowy and icy conditions.

  • The ground stops at the affected airports were announced on Friday, March 13, 2026 and were expected to last through at least 7 p.m. Eastern Time.
  • Earlier on Friday, Seattle-Tacoma International Airport had briefly stopped arriving flights due to snowy and icy conditions.

The players

Federal Aviation Administration

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

Potomac TRACON

The air traffic control facility that was impacted by a chemical smell, leading to the ground stops at the affected airports.

Baltimore-Washington International Airport

One of the major airports in the Northeastern U.S. that was forced to halt air traffic due to the equipment outages.

Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport

One of the major airports in the Northeastern U.S. that was forced to halt air traffic due to the equipment outages.

Washington Dulles International Airport

One of the major airports in the Northeastern U.S. that was forced to halt air traffic due to the equipment outages.

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What they’re saying

“The FAA has temporarily stopped traffic at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA), Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) and Baltimore-Washington International Airport (BWI) because of a strong chemical smell at the Potomac TRACON that is impacting some air traffic controllers.”

— Federal Aviation Administration (Scripps News)

What’s next

The FAA said there was a medium probability that the ground stops at the affected airports would be extended, so travelers should continue to monitor the situation for any updates.

The takeaway

This incident highlights the critical importance of maintaining reliable airport infrastructure and air traffic control systems, as equipment failures and disruptions can have widespread impacts on air travel across a region. It also underscores the need for robust contingency planning and backup systems to minimize the effects of such outages on travelers.