Flight operations came to a standstill at Washington-area airports Friday evening when aviation officials detected a suspicious odor at a critical air traffic control center in Virginia.
The mysterious smell prompted authorities to evacuate the Potomac Consolidated Terminal RADAR Approach Control facility, known as TRACON, which manages aircraft movements across multiple airports in the Washington metropolitan area. Aviation officials implemented ground stops at Reagan Washington National Airport, Washington Dulles, Baltimore, and regional airports in Charlottesville and Richmond starting at approximately 6:40 p.m.
This incident represents the second occurrence in 14 days where an unusual odor at the Warrenton, Virginia facility has caused significant flight disruptions.
According to a source familiar with the situation, the detected smell resembled burning and appeared similar to a previous incident on March 13 that also forced flight suspensions. During that earlier event, aviation authorities determined the source was a strong chemical odor caused by an overheated circuit board.
Flight tracking services reported that incoming aircraft were either circling in holding patterns or being redirected to alternate destinations. No departures occurred from the affected airports after 6:40 p.m., with officials indicating they expected to provide an update around 8 p.m.
Flight monitoring data showed significant impacts across the region, with 25% of flights experiencing delays at Baltimore and National airports, while Dulles reported an 11% delay rate.
