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AverageOldGuy

(3,751 posts) Fri Mar 13, 2026, 09:21 PM Friday

Ground stop at DC area airports?

Daughter is attorney, lives on Capitol Hill in DC. She was buried in work today but now she tells me that for some time this afternoon there was a ground stop at Washington National (also called Reagan National), Dulles International, Baltimore-Washington International (BWI), and Richmond VA International.

Regional air traffic control is in Warrenton, VA -- daughter says story is there was a "chemical odor" at the Warrenton ATC that caused them to empty the building.

I don't find anything on the networks, CNN, or MSNOW. Anyone else hear this?

5 replies

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Highlight:

Ground stop at DC area airports? (Original Post) AverageOldGuy Friday OP

Yes. Link to Yo's post SheltieLover Friday #1

Just checked my flight tracking application AverageOldGuy Friday #2

Google it again, it's all over the news outlets. Ocelot II Friday #3

This has been reported at several airports surfered Friday #4

There's an article on CNN Wiz Imp Friday #5

SheltieLover

(79,838 posts)

1. Yes. Link to Yo's post

Reply to AverageOldGuy (Original post)

Fri Mar 13, 2026, 09:24 PM

Friday

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100221096048

Ty, Yo!

AverageOldGuy

(3,751 posts)

2. Just checked my flight tracking application

Reply to AverageOldGuy (Original post)

Fri Mar 13, 2026, 09:27 PM

Friday

Washington National, BWI, and Dulles all experiencing 1 to 1.5 hour delays. Richmond operating okay.

Delay could mean there was a ground stop earlier.

Ocelot II

(130,309 posts)

3. Google it again, it's all over the news outlets.

Reply to AverageOldGuy (Original post)

Fri Mar 13, 2026, 09:29 PM

Friday

The cause of the smell hasn't been determined but it is said to have affected some of the air traffic controllers.

surfered

(13,164 posts)

4. This has been reported at several airports

Reply to AverageOldGuy (Original post)

Fri Mar 13, 2026, 09:36 PM

Friday

Wiz Imp

(9,834 posts)

5. There's an article on CNN

Reply to AverageOldGuy (Original post)

Fri Mar 13, 2026, 09:45 PM

Friday

https://www.cnn.com/2026/03/13/us/washington-dc-airports-ground-stop
Passengers face hours-long delays across DC-area airports after equipment malfunction at air traffic control center

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