FAA Lifts Ground Stop at Major Washington-Area Airports After Circuit Board Issue

The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on Friday evening lifted a ground stop that had disrupted traffic at three major Washington-area airports for several hours. The disruption stemmed from a strong chemical odor traced to an overheating circuit board at the Potomac Consolidated Terminal RADAR Approach Control facility, which manages airspace for several airports in the region.

Disrupted Airports and Flight Impacts

The FAA initially halted traffic at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Washington Dulles International Airport, and Baltimore-Washington International (BWI) Airport. Richmond International Airport in Virginia was also affected. Flights began to resume around 8 p.m. ET, following more than two hours of stoppage.

According to FlightAware, a flight tracking website, the disruptions impacted over 325 flights – approximately 34% of those arriving and departing from Reagan National Airport. BWI experienced delays for about 30% of its flights (215 flights), even as Dulles saw over 260 flights affected.

Cause and Resolution

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy stated that firefighters responded to the FAA facility in Virginia and confirmed no danger to air traffic controllers, who were returning to the Potomac TRACON. The source of the odor was identified as an overheated circuit board, which has since been replaced.

Travel Disruptions

The incident occurred during a period of high travel volume due to student spring breaks. Flights already in the air were diverted, and numerous planes remained grounded on runways, as reported by Flightradar24.

While the ground stop has been lifted, passengers should still expect residual delays as airlines work to restore normal operations. Travelers are advised to check with their respective airlines for the latest flight status information.