Washington: Flight services in the Washington D.C. area were reinstated on Friday after a temporary ground halt was initiated due to reports of a strong chemical odor emanating from a significant air traffic control center. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced via social media that the ground stop had been lifted, allowing operations to continue.

“Emergency responders have conducted inspections and confirmed that there is no threat to personnel,” said Duffy, noting that firefighters from Fauquier County and Prince William County had assessed the situation. He clarified that operations at key airports including Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA), Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD), Baltimore-Washington International Airport (BWI), and Richmond International Airport (RIC) were impacted by the disruption.

Origin of the Chemical Odor Identified

The incident took place when staff at the Potomac Terminal Radar Approach Control (TRACON) facility reported detecting a strong chemical smell within the premises. This facility is crucial for managing airspace across a large part of the Washington metropolitan area. The disruption particularly affected Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, resulting in over 136 flight cancellations and approximately 300 delays.

Responding teams and a hazardous materials unit traced the odor to an overheating circuit board, which was subsequently replaced to mitigate any further risks. Authorities indicated that while normal flight operations were gradually resuming, reports suggested that flight schedules would likely remain inconsistent over the weekend as the air traffic situation normalized.

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