Newark Airport briefly halted flights March 23, 2026, after a burning smell evacuated controllers; no fire or injuries occurred.

Newark Liberty International Airport briefly halted flights on March 23, 2026, after a burning smell from an elevator prompted the evacuation of air traffic controllers from the control tower. The Federal Aviation Administration imposed a ground stop, disrupting arrivals and departures for about 30 minutes until controllers safely returned and operations resumed. No fire was confirmed, and no injuries occurred. The incident occurred hours after a fatal runway collision at nearby LaGuardia Airport, raising concerns about aviation safety amid ongoing staffing shortages at U.S. airports, including TSA and air traffic control roles, exacerbated by a partial government shutdown.