🔴All Three Major Washington, D.C. Airports Shut Down Following Reports of Unusual Odor.

Three Major D.C.-Area Airports Grounded After ‘Unusual Odor’ Detected at Air Traffic Facility. Three major airports serving the Baltimore–Washington region, including Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI), Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA), and Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD), experienced a temporary ground stop Friday afternoon after a strong odor was detected at Potomac TRACON, the air traffic control facility managing regional flights. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed that the chemical-like smell affected some controllers, prompting a halt in air traffic.

Originally expected to end at 7:00 p.m., the ground stop was later extended to 12:59 a.m., with BWI now under a ground delay. Hundreds of flights and thousands of travelers were impacted. “I don’t know how long it will be delayed…it’s super frustrating,” said Maggy Osha, a passenger delayed on her return to San Francisco.

The disruption coincides with ongoing funding disputes at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which oversees agencies including the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). Weeks of partial shutdowns have left TSA agents and other essential personnel working without pay, contributing to staffing shortages and further delays. Congress passed a House measure last week to fund DHS through the fiscal year, but the bill has stalled in the Senate amid partisan disagreements over immigration enforcement and agency oversight. FAA officials said they are monitoring conditions at Potomac TRACON to resume normal operations safely.