Ground stop impacts airports, including BWI-Marshall

A strong chemical-like odor from an overheated circuit board affected air traffic controllers in Virginia, prompting an hours-long ground stop at multiple airports, including Baltimore’s, causing a ripple effect of flight delays and cancellations.Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport was among several airports where a ground stop was in effect since late Friday afternoon until about 8 p.m.A ground delay was then put into effect until at least 12:59 a.m. Saturday, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.Flight delays of more than an hour have been reported.”I came to the airport and when I got here, I got a message saying the flight was delayed again. And then, the latest update is it has been delayed almost three and a half hours,” a traveler told WBAL-TV 11 News.”On the other side, people are getting off the planes now. They’ve been sitting on the plane for, like, two hours on the jetway. Now, they’re telling them to get off and just go buy something to eat, so all the eateries and everything are packed,” another traveler told WBAL-TV 11 News.What happenedThe FAA’s website first listed a ground stop, citing an equipment outage. An FAA representative sent a statement to WBAL-TV 11 News at 6 p.m., referring to the Potomac Consolidated Terminal RADAR Approach Control (TRACON).”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.” Later Friday night, fire officials in Fauquier County, Virginia, said emergency crews were called around 5:46 p.m. for a potential hazardous materials incident at the FAA center in New Baltimore, Virginia.Officials said dozens of personnel responded, investigated and found a faulty building monitor that was being worked on by a contractor. U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy later posted on X that the source of the strong odor was traced to a circuit board that overheated. It has since been replaced.More than 30 FAA personnel were evaluated before returning to work as the incident was mitigated, fire officials said.Authorities determined the scene to be safe and normal operations resumed.Fauquier County Fire Rescue System Chief Kalvyn Smith released a statement, saying:”Units responded to a reported potential chemical spill, with personnel experiencing mild symptoms from an odor in the building. A Hazmat Team from mutual aid partner Prince William County was requested. The Hazardous Materials team identified a faulty building monitor being worked on by a contractor. Over 30 FAA non-fire department personnel on site were evaluated, with no requiring medical transport.”The extent of the impactBy that time, the damage was done with many flights delayed, and some canceled, as the ground stops had ripple effects across the nation.Other airports along the East Coast under the same air traffic control center that were also impacted included Washington Dulles International, Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Richmond International Airport, Philadelphia International Airport, Charlottesville Albemarle Airport, Manassas Regional Airport/Harry P. Davis Field and others.Airport operations continuedTransportation Security Administration lines were still operating at BWI-Marshall through the ground stop.A BWI-Marshall representative told WBAL-TV 11 News at 8 p.m. that flights were resuming.”The carriers will work to resume regular operations. Travelers should check with their airlines for updated flight status information,” the airport’s statement said. 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LINTHICUM, Md. —

A strong chemical-like odor from an overheated circuit board affected air traffic controllers in Virginia, prompting an hours-long ground stop at multiple airports, including Baltimore’s, causing a ripple effect of flight delays and cancellations.

Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport was among several airports where a ground stop was in effect since late Friday afternoon until about 8 p.m.

A ground delay was then put into effect until at least 12:59 a.m. Saturday, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.

Flight delays of more than an hour have been reported.

“I came to the airport and when I got here, I got a message saying the flight was delayed again. And then, the latest update is it has been delayed almost three and a half hours,” a traveler told WBAL-TV 11 News.

“On the other side, people are getting off the planes now. They’ve been sitting on the plane for, like, two hours on the jetway. Now, they’re telling them to get off and just go buy something to eat, so all the eateries and everything are packed,” another traveler told WBAL-TV 11 News.

What happened

The FAA’s website first listed a ground stop, citing an equipment outage. An FAA representative sent a statement to WBAL-TV 11 News at 6 p.m., referring to the Potomac Consolidated Terminal RADAR Approach Control (TRACON).

“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.”

Later Friday night, fire officials in Fauquier County, Virginia, said emergency crews were called around 5:46 p.m. for a potential hazardous materials incident at the FAA center in New Baltimore, Virginia.

Officials said dozens of personnel responded, investigated and found a faulty building monitor that was being worked on by a contractor. U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy later posted on X that the source of the strong odor was traced to a circuit board that overheated. It has since been replaced.

More than 30 FAA personnel were evaluated before returning to work as the incident was mitigated, fire officials said.

Authorities determined the scene to be safe and normal operations resumed.

Fauquier County Fire Rescue System Chief Kalvyn Smith released a statement, saying:

“Units responded to a reported potential chemical spill, with personnel experiencing mild symptoms from an odor in the building. A Hazmat Team from mutual aid partner Prince William County was requested. The Hazardous Materials team identified a faulty building monitor being worked on by a contractor. Over 30 FAA non-fire department personnel on site were evaluated, with no requiring medical transport.”The extent of the impact

By that time, the damage was done with many flights delayed, and some canceled, as the ground stops had ripple effects across the nation.

Other airports along the East Coast under the same air traffic control center that were also impacted included Washington Dulles International, Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Richmond International Airport, Philadelphia International Airport, Charlottesville Albemarle Airport, Manassas Regional Airport/Harry P. Davis Field and others.

Airport operations continued

Transportation Security Administration lines were still operating at BWI-Marshall through the ground stop.

A BWI-Marshall representative told WBAL-TV 11 News at 8 p.m. that flights were resuming.

“The carriers will work to resume regular operations. Travelers should check with their airlines for updated flight status information,” the airport’s statement said.