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Circuit Board Issue Disrupts Flights at Four Airports

2401 Smith Blvd

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Summary

  • Flights were temporarily halted Friday evening at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Washington Dulles International Airport, Baltimore-Washington International Airport, and Richmond International Airport after controllers reported a strong chemical smell at the Potomac TRACON facility.
  • The FAA issued ground stops while emergency crews investigated the odor inside the building. Officials determined the smell came from faulty equipment, including an overheated circuit board.
  • Ground stops were lifted later in the evening, but flight delays continued overnight.

Timeline

Ground stops affecting Reagan National, Dulles, Baltimore-Washington International, and Richmond airports were lifted around 7:45 p.m., but delays lasting up to several hours continued overnight.

According to the FAA and local officials, more than 25 fire and hazmat crews responded to the facility and evaluated over 30 FAA workers, though none were hospitalized.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy says the strong chemical smell at the Potomac TRACON facility was traced to faulty equipment, including an overheated circuit board and a building monitor being worked on by a contractor, which has since been replaced.

Reports say there is a "strong chemical smell at the Potomac TRACON that is impacting some air traffic controllers."

Unconfirmed reports say there is a fire at the Potomac control center.

Operations are expected to resume at 6:00 p.m. local time.

According to Samdesk, an equipment outage has reportedly prompted a ground stop at the airport, keeping inbound aircraft at their origin until the issue is corrected.

Incident reported at 2401 Smith Blvd.

Ground stops affecting Reagan National, Dulles, Baltimore-Washington International, and Richmond airports were lifted around 7:45 p.m., but delays lasting up to several hours continued overnight.

According to the FAA and local officials, more than 25 fire and hazmat crews responded to the facility and evaluated over 30 FAA workers, though none were hospitalized.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy says the strong chemical smell at the Potomac TRACON facility was traced to faulty equipment, including an overheated circuit board and a building monitor being worked on by a contractor, which has since been replaced.

Reports say there is a "strong chemical smell at the Potomac TRACON that is impacting some air traffic controllers."

Unconfirmed reports say there is a fire at the Potomac control center.

Operations are expected to resume at 6:00 p.m. local time.

According to Samdesk, an equipment outage has reportedly prompted a ground stop at the airport, keeping inbound aircraft at their origin until the issue is corrected.

Incident reported at 2401 Smith Blvd.

Ground stops affecting Reagan National, Dulles, Baltimore-Washington International, and Richmond airports were lifted around 7:45 p.m., but delays lasting up to several hours continued overnight.

According to the FAA and local officials, more than 25 fire and hazmat crews responded to the facility and evaluated over 30 FAA workers, though none were hospitalized.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy says the strong chemical smell at the Potomac TRACON facility was traced to faulty equipment, including an overheated circuit board and a building monitor being worked on by a contractor, which has since been replaced.

Reports say there is a "strong chemical smell at the Potomac TRACON that is impacting some air traffic controllers."

Unconfirmed reports say there is a fire at the Potomac control center.

Operations are expected to resume at 6:00 p.m. local time.

According to Samdesk, an equipment outage has reportedly prompted a ground stop at the airport, keeping inbound aircraft at their origin until the issue is corrected.

Incident reported at 2401 Smith Blvd.

Ground stops affecting Reagan National, Dulles, Baltimore-Washington International, and Richmond airports were lifted around 7:45 p.m., but delays lasting up to several hours continued overnight.

According to the FAA and local officials, more than 25 fire and hazmat crews responded to the facility and evaluated over 30 FAA workers, though none were hospitalized.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy says the strong chemical smell at the Potomac TRACON facility was traced to faulty equipment, including an overheated circuit board and a building monitor being worked on by a contractor, which has since been replaced.

Reports say there is a "strong chemical smell at the Potomac TRACON that is impacting some air traffic controllers."

Unconfirmed reports say there is a fire at the Potomac control center.

Operations are expected to resume at 6:00 p.m. local time.

According to Samdesk, an equipment outage has reportedly prompted a ground stop at the airport, keeping inbound aircraft at their origin until the issue is corrected.

Incident reported at 2401 Smith Blvd.

Ground stops affecting Reagan National, Dulles, Baltimore-Washington International, and Richmond airports were lifted around 7:45 p.m., but delays lasting up to several hours continued overnight.

According to the FAA and local officials, more than 25 fire and hazmat crews responded to the facility and evaluated over 30 FAA workers, though none were hospitalized.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy says the strong chemical smell at the Potomac TRACON facility was traced to faulty equipment, including an overheated circuit board and a building monitor being worked on by a contractor, which has since been replaced.

Reports say there is a "strong chemical smell at the Potomac TRACON that is impacting some air traffic controllers."

Unconfirmed reports say there is a fire at the Potomac control center.

Operations are expected to resume at 6:00 p.m. local time.

According to Samdesk, an equipment outage has reportedly prompted a ground stop at the airport, keeping inbound aircraft at their origin until the issue is corrected.

Incident reported at 2401 Smith Blvd.

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Comments30

CDMinotaurMar 13 at 6:53 PM

Fauquier County Fire has located the source as a malfunctioning monitor that was emitting noxious fumes. The monitor has been removed. 35 individuals were assessed by EMS and none required transport. 1 subject self-transported to a local hospital after declining EMS service at the scene. Fire Department is winding down operations with units exiting and assessing any ventilation needs.

CDMinotaurMar 13 at 6:23 PM

There is currently a hazmat situation at the Potomac TRACON in Warrenton, VA. Fauquier County Fire and Rescue has assessed 10 individuals so far with symptoms of nausea, dizziness and vomiting, but none have required transport to hospital. Hazmat teams are currently working their way through the building to locate and identify the source of the odor.

BaltimoreUser187347012Mar 13 at 5:38 PM

Yall joking like it’s a joke ..

keolsonMar 13 at 5:50 PM

On taxi way at DCA headed back to gate and pilot said there was a fire at the facility tha controls all inbound and outbound “Potomac” flights

CDMinotaurMar 13 at 6:53 PM

Fauquier County Fire has located the source as a malfunctioning monitor that was emitting noxious fumes. The monitor has been removed. 35 individuals were assessed by EMS and none required transport. 1 subject self-transported to a local hospital after declining EMS service at the scene. Fire Department is winding down operations with units exiting and assessing any ventilation needs.

CDMinotaurMar 13 at 6:23 PM

There is currently a hazmat situation at the Potomac TRACON in Warrenton, VA. Fauquier County Fire and Rescue has assessed 10 individuals so far with symptoms of nausea, dizziness and vomiting, but none have required transport to hospital. Hazmat teams are currently working their way through the building to locate and identify the source of the odor.

BaltimoreUser187347012Mar 13 at 5:38 PM

Yall joking like it’s a joke ..

keolsonMar 13 at 5:50 PM

On taxi way at DCA headed back to gate and pilot said there was a fire at the facility tha controls all inbound and outbound “Potomac” flights

CDMinotaurMar 13 at 6:53 PM

Fauquier County Fire has located the source as a malfunctioning monitor that was emitting noxious fumes. The monitor has been removed. 35 individuals were assessed by EMS and none required transport. 1 subject self-transported to a local hospital after declining EMS service at the scene. Fire Department is winding down operations with units exiting and assessing any ventilation needs.

CDMinotaurMar 13 at 6:23 PM

There is currently a hazmat situation at the Potomac TRACON in Warrenton, VA. Fauquier County Fire and Rescue has assessed 10 individuals so far with symptoms of nausea, dizziness and vomiting, but none have required transport to hospital. Hazmat teams are currently working their way through the building to locate and identify the source of the odor.

BaltimoreUser187347012Mar 13 at 5:38 PM

Yall joking like it’s a joke ..

keolsonMar 13 at 5:50 PM

On taxi way at DCA headed back to gate and pilot said there was a fire at the facility tha controls all inbound and outbound “Potomac” flights

CDMinotaurMar 13 at 6:53 PM

Fauquier County Fire has located the source as a malfunctioning monitor that was emitting noxious fumes. The monitor has been removed. 35 individuals were assessed by EMS and none required transport. 1 subject self-transported to a local hospital after declining EMS service at the scene. Fire Department is winding down operations with units exiting and assessing any ventilation needs.

CDMinotaurMar 13 at 6:23 PM

There is currently a hazmat situation at the Potomac TRACON in Warrenton, VA. Fauquier County Fire and Rescue has assessed 10 individuals so far with symptoms of nausea, dizziness and vomiting, but none have required transport to hospital. Hazmat teams are currently working their way through the building to locate and identify the source of the odor.

BaltimoreUser187347012Mar 13 at 5:38 PM

Yall joking like it’s a joke ..

keolsonMar 13 at 5:50 PM

On taxi way at DCA headed back to gate and pilot said there was a fire at the facility tha controls all inbound and outbound “Potomac” flights

CDMinotaurMar 13 at 6:53 PM

Fauquier County Fire has located the source as a malfunctioning monitor that was emitting noxious fumes. The monitor has been removed. 35 individuals were assessed by EMS and none required transport. 1 subject self-transported to a local hospital after declining EMS service at the scene. Fire Department is winding down operations with units exiting and assessing any ventilation needs.

CDMinotaurMar 13 at 6:23 PM

There is currently a hazmat situation at the Potomac TRACON in Warrenton, VA. Fauquier County Fire and Rescue has assessed 10 individuals so far with symptoms of nausea, dizziness and vomiting, but none have required transport to hospital. Hazmat teams are currently working their way through the building to locate and identify the source of the odor.

BaltimoreUser187347012Mar 13 at 5:38 PM

Yall joking like it’s a joke ..

keolsonMar 13 at 5:50 PM

On taxi way at DCA headed back to gate and pilot said there was a fire at the facility tha controls all inbound and outbound “Potomac” flights

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