DOT Sec. Duffy Announces FAA Ground Stop Is ‘Over,’ Airports Resuming Operations – RedState
Updated [9:40 PM ET]: In an update, Sec. Duffy said the ground shutdown was over and normal operations were resuming. He said no one was in danger. And we now know what caused it: (emphasis added)
UPDATE: The ground shutdown has ended and operations have resumed.
Firefighters from Fauquier and Prince William counties confirm there is no danger to air traffic controllers and return to Potomac TRACON. The source of the strong odor has been traced to a circuit… https://t.co/6DwPLPw0OE
– Secretary Sean Duffy (@SecDuffy) March 14, 2026
UPDATE: The ground shutdown has ended and operations have resumed.
Firefighters from Fauquier and Prince William counties confirm there is no danger for air traffic controllersand they return to the Potomac TRACON. The source of the strong odor was traced to a circuit board that overheated and it was replaced.
Thank you for your patience while flights resume @FAANews
original story
Secretary of Transportation Sec. Sean Duffy announced a sudden “ground stop” of planes arriving and departing from at least four U.S. airports, according to several breaking reports published Friday:
🚨BREAKING🚨 GROUND STOP CURRENTLY AT THE FOLLOWING AIRPORTS:
⚠️ Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA)
⚠️ Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD)
⚠️ Baltimore-Washington International Airport (BWI)⁰⚠️ Richmond International Airport (RIC)@FAANews works at…– Secretary Sean Duffy (@SecDuffy) March 13, 2026
Duffy made the announcement in an X post, which shared the reason for the shutdown, “a strong smell”:
BREAKUP GROUND STOP CURRENTLY AT THE FOLLOWING AIRPORTS: Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) Baltimore Washington International Airport (BWI)Richmond International Airport (RIC)
@FAANews is working to address the source of a strong odor coming from Potomac TRACON that is impacting operations at all three airports. For the most up-to-date information on your flight status, visit https://nassstatus.faa.gov
WBAL-TV has more details on what is currently known about the shutdown and the reference to “Potomac TRACON”:
A strong chemical odor which affected air traffic controllers caused a stopover of several hours at several airports, including Baltimore.
…
A ground delay is in 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.
…
An FAA representative sent a statement to WBAL-TV 11 News at 6 p.m., referencing Potomac Terminal Consolidated Terminal RADAR Approach Control (TRACON).
“The FAA has temporarily halted traffic at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA), Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD), and Baltimore-Washington International Airport (BWI) due to a strong chemical odor at Potomac TRACON that is affecting some air traffic controllers.”
The report notes that the emergency could also affect smaller airports:
Other airports along the East Coast were also affected, including Washington Dulles International Airport, Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Richmond International Airport, Philadelphia International Airport, Charlottesville Albemarle Airport, Manassas Regional Airport/Harry P. Davis Field and others.
This is a revolutionary story. RedState will provide updates as more information becomes available.
