Washington flight disruption: Operations resume after chemical odor triggers ground stop

Flights in the Washington, D.C., area resumed operations on Friday local time after reports of a strong chemical odor from a major air traffic control facility that prompted a temporary ground stop.Transport Secretary Sean Duffy confirmed the development in a post on X, saying: “The ground stop has ended and operations have resumed.”He added that emergency response teams had inspected the scene and found no danger to staff. “Firefighters from Fauquier County and Prince William County confirmed to air traffic controllers that there was no danger,” Duffy said.“The temporary ground stops are affecting Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA), Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD), Baltimore Washington International Airport (BWI) and Richmond International Airport (RIC),” Duffy said.Problems began after employees at the TRACON plant in Potomac reported a strong chemical smell inside the building. The center manages airspace over much of the Washington area. CNN reported that Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport was the hardest hit, with more than 136 flights canceled and about 300 flights delayed.Emergency crews and hazardous materials teams later traced the problem to an overheating circuit board. This component has been replaced.Officials said flights were gradually returning to normal. However, the Associated Press reports that flight schedules in the Washington, D.C., area are expected to remain unstable through the weekend.