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

Overheated Circuit Board Causes Temporary Flight Halts in D.C. Area

Flight operations at four regional airports in the Washington, D.C., area were paused on Friday due to a malfunctioning circuit board at a local radar station, officials reported. The issue, which involved an overheated component, led to ground stops around 6:30 p.m., with normal activity resuming by approximately 8 p.m. The affected airports included Ronald Reagan Washington National, Washington Dulles International, Baltimore-Washington International, and Richmond International.

The Federal Aviation Administration noted that a strong chemical odor emanated from the Potomac TRACON facility, a key radar control center located in Northern Virginia. This odor impacted air traffic controllers working at the site, though no immediate threat to personnel was identified. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy addressed the situation on X, stating,

“There is no danger to air traffic controllers. The source of the strong odor was traced to a circuit board that overheated, and it was replaced.”

Despite the resolution of ground stops, airlines warned of lingering delays in the evening. Baltimore-Washington International Airport announced on X at 8 p.m.,

“Airlines are once again resuming regular operations and preparing departures. Expect residual delays this evening.”

Jay Blackman, an NBC News producer covering transportation, space, medical, and consumer topics, reported on the incident. Phil Helsel, a reporter for NBC News, contributed to the coverage as well.