A ground stop was issued at Newark Airport Monday morning after the air traffic control tower was evacuated due to smoke — just hours following the shutdown at LaGuardia Airport because of a fatal plane crash.
Air traffic controllers are being moved to a backup facility on site at Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey after a burning smell was detected, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.
An air traffic control tower was evacuated due to smoke at Newark Airport on Monday morning, just hours after a deadly plane crash at LaGuardia. Christopher Sadowski
Newark’s air traffic control tower seen on Monday, March 23, 2026. REUTERS
“Arrivals and departures are temporarily paused at Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey after air traffic controllers evacuated the tower because of a burning smell coming from an elevator,” the FAA said in a statement.
ICE agents seen at Newark’s Airport on Monday, March 23, 2026. REUTERS
The ground stop was scheduled to last until at least 8:30 a.m., roughly an hour after it started, but the delays caused by the incident are likely to mean more travel woe for passengers in the New York area.
Passengers at airports across the country have been subjected to hours-long security delays because of the ongoing Transportation Security Administration shutdown.
Two pilots were killed late Sunday at LaGuardia Airport in Queens when an Air Canada-operated flight collided with a fire truck on the runway. The airport will be closed until at least Monday afternoon.
A line of planes parked at Newark’s Terminal C. Luiz C. Ribeiro for NY Post
This is a developing story. Please check back for more information.