Evacuation at Newark Airport as flights grounded

A control tower at a major airport serving New York City was evacuated after reports of smoke.

The evacuation took place at Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey and a ground stop put in place after a burning smell from an elevator.

Air traffic was paused at Newark at around 7.30am local time, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed.

"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.

Air traffic controllers later returned to the tower and the ground stop was lifted.

Newark Airport is one of three aviation hubs serving New York City, and the second-busiest of the trio behind John F. Kennedy International.

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Earlier on Monday, an Air Canada plane crashed into a fire engine overnight at New York's LaGuardia Airport, killing the pilot and co-pilot.

A total of 41 people from the plane were taken to hospital, some with serious injuries, and 32 were subsequently released.

(c) Sky News 2026: Evacuation at Newark Airport as flights grounded