Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) experienced significant disruptions Monday morning after controllers evacuated the main air traffic control tower due to a burning smell and smoke, forcing a ground stop that left hundreds of flights stranded.
Early Morning Evacuation
The evacuation occurred around 7:30 a.m. after staff detected smoke emanating from an elevator in the tower. The FAA confirmed there was no active fire, but the burning odor prompted immediate evacuation protocols.
Air traffic controllers were relocated to a backup facility on site—a system that prevented complete shutdown. Controllers began moving back to the main tower by 8:30 a.m. after the burning smell dissipated. Flights resumed shortly after.
Despite the relatively quick resolution, the incident disrupted hundreds of flights Monday morning. Passengers faced delays and uncertainty as airlines worked to resume service and clear backlogs created during the ground stop.
Flight Delays Across the Region
The Newark incident came at an already chaotic time for Northeast air travel.
LaGuardia Airport in New York remained closed Monday following a deadly collision Sunday night between an Air Canada plane and a fire engine on the runway. The pilot and co-pilot were killed in the crash—41 passengers were taken to the hospital after.
LaGuardia officials announced flights would remain grounded until at least 2 p.m., adding an extra layer to travel disruptions across the region’s major airports.
The combination of Newark’s ground stop and LaGuardia’s extended closure have created the perfect storm of travel chaos on Monday. Airlines are urging passengers with Monday flights through either airport to check flight status before heading to terminals, as cancellations and delays are expected to compound throughout the day.
The New Jersey Digest is a new jersey magazine that has chronicled daily life in the Garden State for over 10 years.