Chemical Smell Suddenly Grounds Flights At Several Major Airports
By Tim Rice
Published on March 13, 2026.
Planes were grounded at all three Washington, D.C.-area airports due to a strong chemical smell. The situation caused major delays at one of the nation's largest airports. The Federal Aviation Administration confirmed that the groundings were temporary. This comes as the Department of Homeland Security remains partially shut down, potentially impacting TSA screenings.
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