Ground stop issued at DC-area airports as FAA investigates strong chemical smell at air traffic control center
By Alexandra Skores, CNN
(CNN) — Three airports in the Washington, D.C., area are under a ground stop due to an equipment outage, according to the FAA and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy. who posted details on X.
Passengers at DCA were huddled at gates Friday night as they awaited their flights, with several sprawled out on the floor. Delays are at 90 minutes and rising, according to the FAA.
Duffy said the FAA is investigating a strong odor coming from Potomac TRACON, which provides air traffic control services to the Baltimore-Washington and the Richmond-Charlottesville areas. The TRACON controls the airspace over Andrews, BWI, Ronald Reagan, Dulles, Richmond and many other airports.
The TRACON is located in Warrenton, Virginia.
This is a developing story and will be updated.
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