Ground stops at all 3 major D.C.-area airports

Ground stops were called for at all three major D.C.-area airports Friday evening due to a “strong chemical smell” at a facility that manages air traffic in the region, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.

No flights are taking off or landing at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Washington Dulles International Airport and Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport.

Flights have been diverted to airports as far away as Cleveland and Raleigh.

Air travelers are facing long lines at BWI airport. “I’m impressed there aren’t more bad attitudes,” one person said. News4’s Darcy Spencer talked with people who said they feel for TSA employees working without pay.

The ground stops have since been lifted at Dulles and BWI.

It’s the second such ground stop in two weeks stemming from Potomac TRACON, a terminal radar approach control facility. The ground stops on March 13 also included Richmond International Airport.