All Three Major DC Airports Closed After ‘Strange Odor’ Detected

A major travel disruption unfolded Friday afternoon across the Washington, D.C., region after federal officials halted air traffic at three of the area’s busiest airports, leaving hundreds of flights delayed and thousands of travelers stranded.

Operations were temporarily stopped at Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport, Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, and Washington Dulles International Airport after a mysterious chemical odor was detected at a key air traffic control facility, according to reports.

The Federal Aviation Administration said the disruption originated from the Potomac TRACON facility, which manages air traffic for the region’s major airports. The agency confirmed that the smell was strong enough to affect some air traffic controllers, forcing authorities to pause aircraft movements while the situation was evaluated.

“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 agency confirmed to WJZ-TV.

Initially, officials expected the ground stop to last only until 7:00 p.m., but the delay window was later extended until 12:59 a.m., according to the FAA. While conditions eventually improved enough for the disruption to be downgraded to a ground delay at BWI, travelers continued facing significant uncertainty about their departure times.

Passengers caught in the disruption voiced frustration as delays stretched into the late-night hours.

“They just keep delaying it,” said Maggy Osha, who was trying to return home to San Francisco. “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.”

The airport chaos unfolded amid a broader political standoff in Washington over funding for agencies within the Department of Homeland Security, including the Transportation Security Administration. The partial shutdown has left many federal personnel—including TSA agents and members of the United States Coast Guard—working for weeks without pay.

Reports this week indicated that a number of TSA officers have begun leaving their posts for other employment opportunities as the funding dispute drags on.

Last week, the United States House of Representatives approved legislation designed to restore funding to DHS and end the weeks-long partial shutdown. The measure passed by a 221–207 vote, largely along party lines.

Four Democrats—Henry Cuellar of Texas, Don Davis of North Carolina, Jared Golden of Maine, and Marie Gluesenkamp Perez of Washington—joined Republicans in supporting the bill, according to The Washington Times.

However, the legislation has stalled in the United States Senate, where most Democrats have declined to support it. A similar proposal failed to advance earlier this week after falling short of the 60 votes needed in a procedural vote.

“But the Senate shot down a similar measure earlier Thursday in a 51-45 procedural vote that fell short of the 60 votes needed to advance it. Only one Democrat, Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania, voted with Republicans,” the outlet reported.

Supporters of the funding package argue it is necessary to fully restore operations across DHS, including border enforcement, cybersecurity initiatives, and disaster preparedness programs. Critics have objected to provisions tied to immigration enforcement and oversight of federal agencies.

The department has been partially shut down since February 14, when temporary funding expired. While essential personnel—including airport security officers and Coast Guard members—have remained on the job, some programs have been suspended and other workers furloughed.

Among the affected agencies is the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, which has reportedly been forced to place some employees on leave.

Tom Cole, the Republican chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, stressed the urgency of restoring funding during remarks on the House floor.

He said the funding is “critical…at such an important time for our country.”

With the travel disruption compounding an already tense debate over federal funding, the standoff underscores broader questions about the government’s ability to maintain essential operations while Washington remains locked in political gridlock.

Meanwhile, the administration of President Donald J. Trump continues urging Congress to resolve the dispute and restore full operational funding to the agencies responsible for securing the nation’s borders, transportation networks, and critical infrastructure.