Newark Airport Briefly Grounded Flights After Smoke Reported in Air Traffic Control Tower
Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey temporarily halted flights on Monday, March 23, 2026, after smoke was detected in the air traffic control tower. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) evacuated the tower as a precautionary measure, impacting hundreds of flights.
What Happened at Newark Airport?
Around 7:30 a.m. On Monday, a burning smell was reported originating from an elevator within the Newark air traffic control tower according to the FAA. Air traffic controllers were immediately evacuated, leading to a ground stop for all arrivals, and departures. Airport operations resumed approximately an hour later after staff relocated to a backup tower.
FAA Response and Investigation
The FAA determined that no fire occurred, but investigated the source of the burning smell. Staff moved air traffic control operations to a different tower to allow flights to resume safely as reported by the Associated Press. The cause of the smoke remains under investigation.
Impact on Flights and Passengers
The temporary ground stop impacted hundreds of flights, causing delays for travelers. Passengers scheduled to fly through Newark Airport on Monday were advised to check with their airlines for the latest flight status updates as CBS News reported.
Recent Incidents at Newark and LaGuardia Airports
This incident occurred shortly after LaGuardia Airport in New York City experienced a fatal ground collision on Sunday night, resulting in two fatalities and several injuries. The FAA has grounded flights at LaGuardia until at least 2 p.m. On Monday, with many passengers being rerouted to Newark according to CBS News.
Newark Airport also experienced a minor incident earlier this month when two planes on the ground made contact, though no injuries were reported. In February, the TSA investigated a stowaway on a United flight departing from Newark as reported by CBS News.
ICE Agent Deployment at NYC Airports
Separately, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents were deployed to TSA checkpoints at Newark, JFK, and LaGuardia airports on Monday to assist with staffing shortages due to the federal government funding crisis according to ABC7NY. Approximately 65 agents were stationed at Newark, monitoring terminal entrances and exits to free up TSA officers for screening duties.