With two New York area airports facing closures Monday, travelers are facing long delays and flight cancellations. A deadly runway collision at LaGuardia Airport was followed by a closure at Newark Liberty International Airport when the tower was evacuated.
According to the Federal Aviation Administration, Newark experienced a brief ground stop due to an evacuation triggered by a burning smell originating from an elevator's malfunctioning circuit board. Flights were paused as operations transferred to a backup facility, affecting hundreds of flights.
"The safety of our passengers and staff is our utmost priority. Thanks to the swift actions and protocols in place, we managed to relocate operations efficiently," said Sean Duffy, Secretary of the U.S. Department of Transportation, in an official statement.
Meanwhile, LaGuardia still was grappling with the aftermath of a fatal runway collision. At 11:40 p.m. Sunday, an Air Canada jet collided with an Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting vehicle on the runway, killing two pilots.
"The loss of our colleagues is a profound tragedy, and our thoughts are with their families," said an Air Canada spokesperson in a statement. The flight, originated from Montreal, carrying 72 passengers and four crew members.
Port Authority Executive Director Kathryn Garcia confirmed that LaGuardia would remain closed until 2 p.m. Monday to allow for thorough investigations and safety inspections. Meanwhile, Newark's operations resumed shortly after the evacuation.
"Our teams are working around the clock to ensure safety and restore normalcy," Garcia stated via a Port Authority release.
CBS News New York reported that flights at Newark had resumed less than an hour after the initial evacuation. However, the ripple effects of these disruptions meant delays will likely continue throughout the day.
