Hundreds of flights across the Washington, D.C., region ground to a halt on March 13 and thousands of travelers faced long security lines and mounting delays after a disruption, when a strong chemical odor was detected at the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) Potomac Terminal Radar Approach Control (TRACON) facility in Warrenton, Virginia.
This comes as the aviation system is already strained by the federal government shutdown that has left Transportation Security Administration (TSA) workers without pay.
“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,” FAA officials stated.
At Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Washington Dulles International Airport, and Baltimore Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport, passengers encountered delays, rebooked flights, and security lines that stretched for hours.
With the issue at a key federal air traffic facility, the travel network struggled to absorb both the temporary ground stop and the nationwide staffing shortages tied to the shutdown.
Potomac TRACON oversees approach and departure traffic for much of the Washington region, meaning even a localized issue can quickly affect flights across the nation’s capital airspace.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said firefighters from Fauquier County and Prince William County responded to investigate the source of the odor. According to Duffy, the smell came from a circuit board that overheated and has since been replaced. He reported that there was no danger to air traffic controllers and that flight operations resumed after the equipment was repaired.
Virginia Sen. Mark Warren (D) also offered an update and well wishes after learning about the concerning smell.
“I’m thinking of all workers impacted by this incident and praying for their health and safety,” Warner said. “Thank you to all first responders addressing the situation.”
Frustrated TSA, Travelers: ‘They Just Keep Delaying It‘
Even after the ground stop ended, travelers continued to face delays as airlines worked to untangle flight schedules and security checkpoints struggled to keep up with passenger volume.
The delays in the D.C. region mirrored the chaos at airports across the country as the Department of Homeland Security shutdown stretches into another week. TSA officers, considered essential workers, have been required to remain on the job despite missing paychecks.
More than 300 TSA officers have reportedly resigned since the shutdown began on Feb. 14, according to agency figures, while other employees have called out or taken unscheduled leave.
Morgan Young, who was traveling back to Washington, said the disruptions have created additional stress for both travelers and TSA officers who continue reporting to work without pay.
“It’s stressful, honestly,” Young told NBC News. “I feel like Atlanta airport runs as smooth as possible, but it is stressful for sure. And more stressful for the people who aren’t getting paid and are at work.”
The staffing shortages have forced passengers to endure unusually long waits at airports nationwide. Flight tracking data from FlightAware showed 7,725 delays and 714 cancellations involving flights within, into, or out of the United States during the peak of the disruption.
For travelers in the Washington region, the delays were immediate.
“They just keep delaying it,” Maggy Osha, who was trying to return home to San Francisco, said in a broadcast interview. “I don’t know how long it will be delayed for…but it’s super frustrating that now it’s going to land at 3 a.m., so now I won’t get any sleep.”
Baltimore Washington International Airport felt the ripple effects particularly strongly because it serves as a key gateway for travelers heading to Florida destinations such as Miami and Orlando. When flights slowed dramatically during the ground stop, departures and arrivals backed up across airline schedules.
Passengers trying to reach spring break destinations reported missed connections, canceled hotel reservations, and flights pushed hours beyond their scheduled departure times as airlines attempted to reorganize routes and consolidate travelers onto fewer aircraft.
The challenges in D.C. and Baltimore were duplicated at airports across the country.
At Hartsfield Jackson Atlanta International Airport, the nation’s busiest airport and a central hub for Delta Air Lines, travelers encountered security lines that wound through the domestic terminal. Digital signs showed wait times ranging from only a few minutes for TSA PreCheck passengers to more than an hour at standard checkpoints. Some locations reported wait times as much as four hours.
Laronda Monteiro, who arrived early for a flight to New Orleans, said the long lines were frustrating but understandable given the circumstances.
“I know we have to be secure, and I just appreciate those who are still with TSA, remaining on the job,” Monteiro told reporters. “I can wait for the safety and security.”
Airports in Chicago, Austin, Fort Lauderdale, Philadelphia, Houston, and New Orleans have reported similar scenes as staffing shortages slow security screening. Videos circulating online showed security lines winding through terminals, with some travelers warning others to arrive several hours before departure times.
Anthony Riley, a TSA officer at Syracuse Hancock International Airport, said the shutdown has pushed his family toward financial crisis as paychecks remain stalled.
“The problem is that my credit rating was wrecked by the last government shutdown when I was working and not getting paid,” Riley said.
Riley said he worries that the continuing shutdown could leave his family without housing.
“But my lawyer told us to be prepared to leave in 30 days if it doesn’t work out,” Riley said. “Right now, I’m doing everything I can to keep my family from being kicked out on the street.”