Ground stop issued at DC-area airports due to ongoing chemical odor investigation at control facility

A ground stop has been issued at several airports in the Washington, D.C., region, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced Friday evening.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is investigating a strong odor at Potomac Terminal Radar Approach Control (TRACON), which manages air traffic in the area, according to Duffy.

The ground stop affects Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA), Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD), Baltimore-Washington International Airport (BWI) and Richmond International Airport (RIC), according to Duffy.

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"[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.

Airports are expected to remain on a ground stop until 8 p.m. EDT, according to the FAA’s alert page.

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TRACON, located in Warrenton, Virginia, provides air traffic control services across the Baltimore-Washington and Richmond-Charlottesville areas, according to FOX 5.

Earlier Friday, an FAA spokesperson said traffic was halted because of a strong chemical odor at the Potomac TRACON affecting some controllers.

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"The FAA has temporarily stopped traffic at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA), Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) and Baltimore-Washington International Airport (BWI) because of a strong chemical smell at the Potomac TRACON that is impacting some air traffic controllers," the spokesperson said.