FAA issues temporary ground stop on flights at DC, Maryland airports

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said Friday that the Federal Aviation Administration issued a temporary ground stop on flights in Washington, D.C., and Baltimore, Maryland, because of a strong chemical smell at a communications center.

The ground stop was lifted Friday evening but caused delays at the Baltimore-Washington International Airport, Washington Dulles International Airport and the Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.

"[The FAA] is working to address the source of a strong odor coming from Potomac TRACON that is impacting operations at the three airports," Duffy said on X.

It was not immediately clear what caused the chemical smell.

The ground delays were expected to last until midnight at DCA and until 1 a.m. at the Dulles and Baltimore airports, according to the FAA. 

Arrivals and departures at the Baltimore airport were delayed by about two hours and the arrivals and departures at the Washington, D.C. airports are delayed by three hours, according to the New York Times.