Operations at Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey were temporarily disrupted on Monday morning after air traffic controllers evacuated the control tower due to a burning smell emanating from an elevator. The Federal Aviation Administration confirmed the incident, which led to a brief pause in both arrivals and departures at the busy airport.
Immediate Response and Investigation
The FAA stated that it was not immediately clear what caused the burning smell, but it was determined that no actual fire had occurred. The delay lasted less than an hour, and fortunately, no injuries were reported during the evacuation. This swift resolution helped minimise the impact on travel schedules.
Backup Systems Activated
During the pause, FAA staff relocated to a backup tower at the airport, as confirmed by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which operates Newark Liberty. This contingency plan allowed for continued oversight of air traffic, albeit at a reduced capacity. The controllers later returned to the primary tower once the situation was deemed safe.
Recent Similar Incidents
This event follows a similar incident earlier this month, where four airports serving Washington, D.C., Baltimore, and Richmond, Virginia, halted all flights for over an hour due to a strong chemical smell that impeded air traffic controllers. Federal Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy later traced the source to an overheated circuit board, which was promptly replaced.
Unrelated to LaGuardia Accident
Officials emphasised that the temporary pause at Newark Liberty was not related to a fatal accident at New York’s LaGuardia Airport on Sunday night. In that separate episode, two people were killed and several others seriously injured when an Air Canada regional jet struck a fire truck on a runway while landing.
The quick response and use of backup facilities at Newark Airport highlight the resilience of air traffic control systems in handling unexpected disruptions, ensuring passenger safety remains a top priority.
