The New York City aviation corridor is currently facing significant disruption following two separate, high-stakes incidents on Monday morning, March 23rd.
While Newark has mostly stabilized, LaGuardia remains under a total ground stop.
Newark Liberty (EWR)
Earlier this morning, around 7:30 am, air traffic controllers at Newark Liberty International Airport were forced to evacuate the tower, as reported by the Associated Press and reports from the FAA’s status page.
The disruption was triggered by a burning smell and reports of smoke emanating from one of the tower’s elevators.
While the incident caused an immediate ground stop, it was handled swiftly:
- Response: Authorities cleared the tower and investigated the source, confirming there was no active fire.
- Current Status: Control operations were briefly moved to a backup facility before staff returned to the main tower. Flights resumed shortly before 9 am.
- Traveler Impact: Expect “residual delays” throughout the afternoon as the airport works through the morning’s backlog.
Laguardia (LGA)
Alongside this incident, a far more severe tragedy unfolded at LaGuardia Airport late Sunday night, forcing a full closure through at least 2 pm, Monday.
At around 11:40 p.m., Air Canada Express Flight 8646 collided with a Port Authority firefighting truck while landing on Runway 4 after arriving from Montreal.
Officials confirmed the deaths of both the pilot and co-pilot, while at least 41 others were injured, including passengers and two firefighters; nine remain hospitalized with serious injuries.
Preliminary findings indicate the truck had entered the runway to respond to a separate burning odor emergency involving a United Airlines flight, with air traffic control audio capturing a last-second warning to stop just before the collision.
Find more updates here.
What To Know
If you are flying in or out of the NYC area today, the situation remains fluid.
- Total Closure at LGA: No flights are arriving or departing from LaGuardia until at least 2 pm ET. Most airlines have already cancelled their entire morning and early afternoon schedules.
- Diversions: Many flights intended for LGA were diverted last night to JFK or Newark, adding to the congestion at those hubs.
- Security Delays: Note that a separate federal funding lapse is already impacting TSA staffing, leading to longer-than-usual lines at security checkpoints across all major airports.
What Travelers Can Do
- Allow 4+ Hours: For those flying out of JFK or Newark, officials recommend arriving at least 3 to 4 hours early due to the combination of diverted traffic and TSA staffing shortages.
- Check Your Status Before Leaving: Do not head to LaGuardia unless your airline has confirmed a rescheduled flight for later in the day. Use the airline’s mobile app for the fastest updates.
- Utilize Travel Waivers: Major carriers, including American Airlines and Air Canada, have issued travel alerts. You can likely rebook your flight to a later date or switch your destination to JFK or EWR.
This article will be updated.