Newark Airport Control Tower Evacuated Due to Burning Smell

On Monday morning, the control tower at Newark Liberty International Airport was briefly evacuated, causing a ground stop, following reports of a burning smell, according to the FAA.

At around 7:30 a.m., air traffic controllers vacated the tower due to a burning odor emanating from an elevator, halting all arrivals and departures. Operations resumed shortly after controllers returned to their stations, lifting the ground stop in approximately thirty minutes.

This evacuation incident came just after a tragic event at New York's LaGuardia Airport, where an Air Canada Express jet collided with a fire truck, resulting in the deaths of both pilots and dozens of injuries. The incident underscores ongoing concerns in U.S. aviation regarding air traffic controller shortages and issues with the Transportation Security Administration amid a partial government shutdown.