Newark Airport Control Tower Evacuated Due to Burning Smell

A burning smell prompted the evacuation of the control tower at Newark Liberty International Airport, leading to a temporary ground stop for flights. This incident follows a tragic collision at LaGuardia Airport involving an Air Canada Express jet. The aviation sector is currently facing significant staffing shortages, raising safety concerns across the nation. Read on for more details about this developing story.

By Narendra Chaudhary Mar 23, 2026, 18:52 IST

Incident at Newark Airport

On Monday morning, the control tower at Newark Liberty International Airport, located near New York City, was evacuated temporarily due to a reported burning odor, as stated by the FAA and reported by various news outlets. This incident prompted officials to implement a ground stop, halting all air traffic at the busy airport.

The FAA confirmed that air traffic controllers evacuated the tower after detecting a burning smell emanating from an elevator. Consequently, all flight operations were paused around 7:30 a.m. However, normal operations resumed approximately one hour later.

This event occurred just a day after a tragic incident at LaGuardia Airport, where an Air Canada Express jet collided with a fire truck during landing, resulting in the deaths of both pilots and injuries to numerous others, leading to the airport's closure.

The aviation sector in the US is currently grappling with a significant shortage of air traffic controllers, compounded by a lack of Transportation Security Administration personnel due to a partial government shutdown. This situation has resulted in delays, extended security lines, and increased safety concerns at airports nationwide.

(This is a developing story)