Newark Airport's Burning Smell Incident Halts Operations Briefly

The control tower at Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey was evacuated due to a burning smell from an elevator, leading to a temporary halt of arrivals and departures. The incident follows a crash at LaGuardia Airport involving an Air Canada Express jet, highlighting ongoing aviation safety concerns.

A temporary evacuation of Newark Liberty International Airport's control tower occurred Monday morning due to a burning smell emanating from an elevator, according to the FAA. This led to a temporary lockdown on both arrivals and departures.

The disruption happened around 7:30 a.m., with air traffic controllers quickly evacuated. The situation eased once they returned to their station and lifted the half-hour ground stop.

This incident came shortly after an Air Canada Express jet disaster at LaGuardia Airport, where a collision with a fire truck resulted in fatalities. The aviation sector is currently suffering shortage issues among air traffic controllers and TSA officers, attributed to a partial government shutdown impacting airport operations and safety.

(With inputs from agencies.)