Overheated circuit board leads to ground stop at D.C. area airports

Overheated Circuit Board Causes Ground Stops at D.C. Area Airports

A technical issue at a radar station in the Washington, D.C., region triggered flight disruptions at four major airports on Friday. Officials confirmed that the problem, linked to a faulty circuit board, was under investigation when the ground stops were enacted. The affected airports included Ronald Reagan Washington National, Washington Dulles International, Baltimore-Washington International, and Richmond International.

Disruptions began around 6:30 p.m. local time, with operations paused to address the issue. By approximately 8 p.m., the situation had been resolved, though some delays were expected to persist. The Federal Aviation Administration reported that a “strong chemical smell” was detected at the Potomac TRACON facility, where air traffic controllers were impacted.

“There is no danger to air traffic controllers,” stated Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy on X following the resolution. “The odor originated from a circuit board that overheated, and it has been replaced,” he added.

Despite the lifting of ground stops, Baltimore-Washington International Airport warned of lingering delays in the evening. The airport’s social media update noted that airlines were restoring normal schedules but cautioned travelers about potential residual disruptions.

The incident occurred at the Potomac TRACON building, located in Northern Virginia. Jay Blackman, an NBC News producer specializing in transportation, space, medical, and consumer topics, and Phil Helsel, an NBC News reporter, covered the event.