US airport’s control tower evacuated over burning smell

US federal aviation authorities said the control tower at Newark airport outside New York City was temporarily evacuated and authorities ordered the ground to be shut down after smelling burning.

“Arrivals and departures at Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey were temporarily suspended after air traffic controllers evacuated the tower due to a burning smell coming from the elevator,” the FAA said.

There was a pause in traffic at the busy airport around 07.30 on Monday.

Controllers returned to their stations and about half an hour later the ground stop was removed.

The incident occurred the morning after an Air Canada Express jet collided with a fire truck while landing at New York’s LaGuardia airport, killing both pilots, injuring dozens and shutting down the facility, officials said.

U.S. aviation is facing a chronic shortage of air traffic controllers and a separate shortage of Transportation Security Administration officers due to a partial government shutdown that has led to delays, long security lines and growing security concerns at airports across the country.