Flights across several major airports serving Washington, D.C., and Baltimore were delayed after a strong chemical smell was detected at a critical air traffic control facility responsible for managing aircraft in the region.

The Federal Aviation Administration ordered a temporary ground stop affecting Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Washington Dulles International Airport and Baltimore-Washington International Airport after the odor was reported at the Potomac Terminal Radar Approach Control facility, commonly known as Potomac TRACON.

The radar center coordinates aircraft movements across the busy Mid-Atlantic airspace and manages arrivals and departures for multiple airports.

Officials said the disruption halted departures and delayed landings for more than an hour while emergency crews investigated conditions inside the facility.

The interruption affected a significant share of scheduled flights, leaving aircraft waiting on the ground or holding in the air as controllers worked under limited capacity.

Emergency responders and hazardous-materials teams were called to the air traffic control building in Warrenton, Virginia, after personnel reported a strong odor that some initially described as chemical-like.

Dozens of staff members at the site were evaluated by responders, though none required hospital treatment.

Investigators later traced the source of the smell to an overheated circuit board within equipment at the facility.

Officials said the faulty component was replaced and the building was declared safe, allowing controllers to return to their positions and flight operations to gradually resume.

The disruption illustrated how problems at a single air traffic control facility can quickly ripple across multiple airports.

Potomac TRACON manages aircraft movements across the capital region and surrounding states, making it one of the most important radar control centers in the United States aviation network.

Passengers at airports including BWI and Dulles reported waiting at gates while airlines adjusted schedules and repositioned aircraft.

Travel officials warned that delays could continue for several hours even after the ground stop was lifted as airlines worked to restore normal operations.

Authorities said there was no ongoing danger to personnel or the public and that flight operations returned to normal once the equipment issue had been resolved.